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Spastic Cerebral Palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy and affects nearly 80 percent of patients. Spastic cerebral palsy is characterized by muscle stiffness and limited movement of the joints. Children with spastic cerebral palsy have difficulty moving from one position to another. It is also difficult for them to holding things and letting go.

Types of Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy is categorized by the areas of the body that they affect. Affecting both the legs and the arms is a type called Diplegia. One limb is affected in Monoplegia, a rare form of spastic cerebral palsy. Another type of spastic cerebral palsy affects only one side of the body, Hemiplegia. A type that affects the movement of three limbs is Triplegia and Quadriplegia affects all four limbs.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis

Determining if a child has spastic cerebral palsy is not always easy. The medical staff is responsible for making the mother and baby feel comfortable. It is their duty to be prompt when things go wrong such as preterm delivery. If there are questions about your babys health then tests are done. Doctors perform MRIs. Ultrasounds, and CT scans. If you think your baby has some symptoms of cerebral palsy you need to take your child to see a physician right away.

Options for Treatment

Treatments are given to children with cerebral palsy depending on their type. Physical therapy will help the child to strengthen their muscles, and decrease spasticity. Children also may have occupational therapy that will assist with fine motor skills like eating. Some patients go swimming as a form of exercise therapy. Children also go through surgeries to increase joint motion and reduce spasticity.

Medical Malpractice and Spastic Cerebral Palsy

When your child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, families go through many emotions. There are factors that may lead to cerebral palsy. Some of these risk factors include oxygen deprivation in the infant, infections in mother or baby, severe jaundice and difficult labor or delivery.

The medical staff is responsible for the mother and child, making sure they are alright. Nonetheless there are cases where medical malpractice takes place and families need to know what they can do if this happens. Families can be compensated for damages that occurred during labor and delivery.

Contact a Medical Lawyer

Families need to contact a lawyer immediately if you feel like there may have been medical malpractice involved. There is time limit in cases like these so do not wait to call. Lawyers know your rights and they can get the compensation you need for the care of your child.

There are many different forms of cerebral palsy, including spastic, athetoid, ataxic, and mixed. Cerebral palsy children suffer from one of these types, but the most common is spastic.

Spasticity is usually identified through stiff and convulsive muscles. Still, there are other forms of cerebral palsy that children suffer from that cause very loose muscles, their coordination is poor, or a combination of these symptoms.

Other related conditions which cerebral palsy children suffer from include mental retardation, vision and hearing impairments, and bad or uncontrollable behavior. There are medications for patients to keep the symptoms under control because there is no known cure for cerebral palsy.

What Causes Cerebral Palsy in Children?

Cerebral palsy has one main cause: prenatal brain injury. Sometimes, more than one cause is involved in developing the cerebral palsy, but other times, the cause is unknown.

Though, we are aware of some causes of the development of cerebral palsy, and some factors which cause a person to be more vulnerable to it. These are:

*Birth injuries

*Inadequate oxygen supply

*Early births

*Prenatal infections like rubella

*Severe jaundice.

Brain injuries which occur in the early years of life cause cerebral palsy to develop in children, instead of from birth. These brain injuries are often caused by trauma, strokes, meningitis, and dehydration.

Treatments for Cerebral Palsy Children

Treating cerebral palsy varies depending on the child, but typically includes a combination of the following.

*Physical therapy to stretch and exercise muscles

*Occupational therapy, to assist with regular tasks

*Speech therapy to improve language and help with pronunciation difficulties

*Using glasses and hearing aids to improve vision and hearing impairments

*Drug therapy to reduce muscle spasms and relax tight and inflexible muscles

*Improving mobility and communication skills with the help of technology

*Different types of surgery to improve muscle and joint movement

*Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and other alternative therapies

Cerebral palsy is not a progressive condition which worsens over a period of time. However, it does require a lifetime of treatment. Treating a cerebral palsy patient can be devastatingly expensive and very difficult for a family to manage. There are places that provide assistance to families in need.

What to do if Medical Malpractice is to Blame

For some children, cerebral palsy was avoidable. This means that it was caused by a medical error during the delivery process. For families in this situation, there are legal options. It is possible that negligent parties are held financially responsible for damages suffered by cerebral palsy children and their families.

If medical malpractice is at fault for your child's disability, then contact a medical lawyer today. This will put your finances back on track.