Massachusetts Personal Injury Library

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a disability resulting from damage to the brain before, during and up to two years after birth. It involves the loss of movement or other nerve function. The disorder is non-progressive – it does not worsen or improve with time.

There are approximately 550,000 people affected with cerebral palsy in the United States and 9,750 new cases are diagnosed every year.

According to the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) organization, 20% of cerebral palsy cases occurred during birth (perinatal).

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

Causes of cerebral palsy include:

Brain damage in the first few months of life
Brain infections (meningitis or encephalitis)
Head injuries from accidents, falls, child abuse

Symptoms for Cerebral Palsy

Common signs of cerebral palsy include:

Lack of muscle coordination (ataxia)
Stiff or tight muscles (spasticity)
Walking with one foot
Leg dragging
Walking on toes
Crouched gait
Scissored gait
Stiff or floppy muscle tone

Cerebral Palsy Treatment Options

There is no cure for cerebral palsy but different treatment options can improve quality of life and help children overcome their disabilities.

Treatment options include:

Physical and occupational therapy
Speech therapy
Drugs to control seizures and relax spasms
Surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities
Surgery to release muscles
Braces/orthotic devices
Wheelchairs to increase mobility
Communication aids with voice synthesizers

The prognosis of individuals with cerebral palsy varies according to how severe their case is – one child may be able to walk, but experience a gait problem, while another may be wheelchair bound.

Cerebral Palsy from a Birth Injury Accident

If your child has cerebral palsy and it may have been caused by the negligence of another party, seek the advice of a Boston cerebral palsy lawyer who specializes in cerebral palsy and birth injuries.

Contact Kiley Law Group today for a FREE EVALUATION of your case.

Call 1-888-208-1695 today.