Houston Cerebral Palsy Attorney

Houston Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice Lawyer Michael Grossman Discusses Cerebral Palsy

Certain types of birth injuries can result in a child developing cerebral palsy, which is a name given to a group of conditions that affect the muscular and neurological systems of a person’s body.

Cerebral palsy is not a birth injury, but can be the result of a brain injury that occurs during the development of a fetus until a child becomes two-years old. Cerebral palsy is caused by a brain injury to a specific area of the brain, and this injury can result in muscle problems, coordination issues, neurological problems, and issues with body movement or posture. Signs of cerebral palsy can occur within months after the injury, but may not be diagnosed until the child is one or two-years old. Cerebral palsy is not curable, but it is treatable. However, those that suffer from cerebral palsy often require life-long medical attention, which is often accompanied by severe financial strain on the family tasked with taking care of their child. As such, if you believe that your child developed CP as a result of a birth injury caused by a negligent medical professional, you may have merit in seeking compensation for that injury through a medical malpractice lawsuit. Houston cerebral palsy attorney Michael Grossman offers the following informative article regarding the types of cerebral palsy and your possible legal options should your child be exhibiting such signs due to medical malpractice.

The Four Types of Cerebral Palsy

The types of cerebral palsy are classified based on the area of the brain that is injured. They are also differentiated by the part of the body that they affect.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy is noted by spasm-like movement, with different degrees of severity, and is caused by an injury to the brain’s motor cortex area. Spastic CP is the most common type of cerebral palsy, occurring in about 70% of all CP cases. Those that suffer from spastic CP have tight, rigid muscles that cause them to move abnormally. Spastic CP can appear in three different types depending on the part of the body affected.

• Spastic hemiplegia affects one half of the body when brain or nerve damages occurs to that half of the body. Those with spastic hemiplegia are often the most able to walk out of all of those with cerebral palsy.
• Spastic diplegia affects the lower half of the body, and is the most common form of spastic cerebral palsy. Spastic diplegics are noted by a scissors-walk in which they walk on their toes because of the extreme tightness of the muscles in their legs or abdominal areas. Upper body muscles are not affected, but nearsightedness can often be an issue.
• Spastic quadriplegia affects all quadrants of the body, from both the upper and lower, to both sides, and is them most severe form of spastic cerebral palsy. Children with spastic quadriplegia may not be able to walk or move at all because of the inflexibility of their entire body. Full or partial tremors can occur in those with spastic quadriplegia.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy is noted by a lack of fine motor skills, like writing, typing, or being able to use scissors. This form of CP is less common, occurring in approximately 10% of all children diagnosed with CP. Ataxic cerebral palsy is caused by a brain injury to the cerebellum, resulting in weakened muscles throughout the body. Full or partial body tremors can occur in those with ataxic CP. Other signs of ataxic cerebral palsy can include missed developmental milestones, such as an inability of a child to stand on their own, or a child’s need to have an abnormally wide stance in order to maintain their balance while upright. Slurred speech, changing volume while talking, unsteady walking patterns, and lack of depth perception can also be signs of ataxic CP.

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy is also known as athetoid cerebral palsy and is noted by a lack of body control. Dyskinetic CP occurs in about 20% of all CP diagnoses. Developmental delays like an inability of a child to hold themselves up, an inability to grasp an object, or involuntary movement, are often signs of athetoid CP. This type of CP is often associated with a birth injury caused by untreated bilirubin levels in a newborn’s blood or an injury done to the extrapyrimidal region of the newborn’s brain. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy often requires the most medical attention of the the types of cerebral palsy.

Mixed Cerebral Palsy is rare, and occurs when two or more forms of CP appear due to multiple injuries to different areas of the brain. Mixed CP can require immense medical assistance throughout a child’s life.

Contact Houston Cerebral Palsy Attorney Michael Grossman for Help in Pursuing Legal Action Through a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Texas

Establishing the connection between your child’s brain injury and the possible negligent behavior of a medical professional can be a daunting task. However, Houston cerebral palsy attorney Michael Grossman has 20 years of experience in personal injury and medical malpractice lawsuits and is ready to put that experience to work for you so that you can stand to be compensated for your child’s birth injury. If such negligence did occur resulting in your child’s life-long need for medical care, you may be able to receive compensation for that financial loss through a medical malpractice lawsuit. When we’re contacted to work such a case, we’ll conduct a thorough investigation into the birth injury, contacting expert witnesses when necessary who will review all medical documents related to your birth in order to see if negligent behavior occurred. Contact us at 1-855-392-0000 (toll free) for a free, private, legal consultation to have your further questions answered. We’ll also provide you with your legal options so that you can stand to be fully compensated for your child’s injury. The diagnosis of cerebral palsy can result in severe financial stress in addition to the stress that often accompanies taking care of a child suffering from such an issue. However, such financial strain does not have to continue, as you could stand to be awarded compensation for your child’s medical bills, both past and future, through a Texas medical malpractice lawsuit. Contact us today to learn more about how this might be accomplished.