Cerebral Palsy

Every year, approximately 10,000 babies will be diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which is a chronic movement or posture disorder. In the simplest of terms, cerebral palsy is caused by the brain's inability to adequately control the body.  Cerebral palsy has five classifications: (1) spastic, (2) ataxic, (3) athetoid/dyskinetic, (4) hypotonic, and (5) mixed.

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common diagnosis. People who suffer from this type of cerebral palsy typically have difficulty ambulating because of spastic and jerky muscles. There are three type of spastic cerebral palsy:

  • spastic diplegia (tight leg and hip muscles, with crossed legs);
  • spastic hemiplegia (one-sided body stiffness); and
  • spastic quadriplegia (impairment of leg, arm and body movement, often with mental retardation).

Athenoid/dyskinetic cerebral palsy is the second most common diagnosis. People who suffer from this type of cerebral palsy typically have tight or weak muscle tone, experience difficulty walking, sitting or speaking, and may have difficulty controlling facial movement which can lead to drooling.

Ataxic cerebral palsy is the least common diagnosis. People who suffer form this type of cerebral palsy typically have difficulty performing tasks involving fine motor skills, such as tying shoes and buttoning shirts. They may have difficulty walking and suffer from "intention tremors," which is a shaking that begins with a voluntary movement. 

Hypotonic cerebral palsy is distinguished by poor muscle control and an inability, early in life, to control the head. Typically motor skills will also be developmentally delayed with this diagnosis. 

Like it sounds, people who suffer from mixed cerebral palsy suffer from a combination of cerebral palsy symptoms.  Common causes of cerebral palsy include:

There are many different ways to treat people children and adults who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, including:

  • physical therapy;
  • suit therapy;
  • neural stem cell therapy;
  • hyperbaric oxygen therapy;
  • nutrition;
  • hippotherapy;
  • aquatherapy;
  • botox therapy; and
  • exercise.

The trial lawyers at Bottar Leone, PLLC, have decades of experience investigating, prosecuting and trying to verdict medical malpractice and birth injury cases involving a cerebral palsy.  If your baby's condition or injury is due to medical malpractice, your child and family may be entitled to compensation for lifelong health care, medical expenses, special education, medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering. 

To discuss your case or concerns with an experienced Central New York medical malpractice and birth injury attorney, contact us now at (315) 422-3466, (800) 336-LAWS, or by e-mail at info@bottarleone.com.