What is Spastic Cerebral Palsy?
Abnormal muscle control is the common characteristic of the three types of cerebral palsy: spastic, athetoid, and ataxic. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy, comprising 70-80% of all cases, and is caused by damage to the brain’s cerebral cortex, which controls motor movements in the body.
In spastic cerebral palsy, the child’s movements are limited, stiff, and jerky because the muscles governing movement are tight, the reflexes enhanced, and the joints contracted. Normally, the muscles work in pairs, contracting and relaxing to create the intended movement, but with spastic cerebral palsy, the muscles do everything at once with nothing being accomplished. Any control of body movements, particularly the arms and legs, is poor and can sometimes worsen into deformities as the child ages.
Treatment of Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Spastic cerebral palsy can be controlled. Treatment includes:
· For support and mobility: braces, walkers, or wheelchairs
· Spasm control: Botox injections and Baclofen infusions
· Preventing deterioration of muscles: exercise
· Improving motor skills: physical therapy
· Learning basic life skills: occupational therapy
· Increasing the amount of oxygen in the cerebrospinal fluid: hyperbaric oxygen therapy
· Improving swallowing and speaking: speech therapy
· Increasing joint range of motion: orthopedic surgery
What Caused My Child’s Condition?
Brain injury to babies during delivery can be caused by many factors beyond the control of the medical profession. But in many cases, an error in judgment or an act of negligence by the medical team that delivered the baby may have been the cause of cerebral palsy in your child.
There are common errors in medical treatment that can result in a baby developing spastic cerebral palsy. They are usually errors by the doctors and nurses to detect, diagnose, and/or treat—in a timely manner—a problem in the delivery. This constitutes medical malpractice and may entitle you to receive compensation for your losses and suffering.
Your Legal Rights
Perey Law Group, PLLC is committed to helping you receive compensation if your child’s cerebral palsy was preventable. We provide a free consultation, during which an experienced lawyer will evaluate your case and devise a course of action to protect your legal rights.
Please fill out the form below to contact one of our experienced attorneys.
Perey Law Group, PLLC
1606 8th Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (206) 443-7600
Fax: (206) 443-4785