One of the most devastating birth injuries that Pennsylvania families have to deal with is cerebral palsy (CP). This can be even more tragic if the condition was a result of negligence on the part of medical professionals during labor or delivery. A birth injury lawyer in Philadelphia PA works diligently to make sure that families get the financial justice they deserve in these cases. The following is a brief overview of the different symptoms and medical issues CP causes. For more detailed information about how a law firm can help your family, contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at the Wieand Law Firm LLC today.
What Is Spastic Cerebral Palsy?
Approximately 70 to 80 percent of CP victims suffer from spastic cerebral palsy. One of the most common symptoms of this type of CP is stiff muscles that are resistant to relaxing and flexing. This makes it difficult for the children to control movements, and they often have difficulty with talking, eating, coordination, and balance. Other disabilities that can develop as a result of spastic CP include scoliosis, hip dislocation, and limb deformities. The five types of spastic CP a child can have are:
Monoplegia: One arm or leg is affected
Hemiplegia: One arm and one leg on one side of the body are affected
Diplegia: Both legs, but not the upper body are affected. This is also referred to as paraplegia.
Triplegia: One arm and both legs or both arms and one leg are affected
Quadriplegia: Both arms, both legs, body, windpipe, mouth, and tongue are affected. This form of CP often causes excruciating pain for the child. Some of the other health issues include:
- Very stiff or floppy body
- Difficulty sucking or swallowing
- Shrill or weak cry
- Sleep often
- Startle easily
- Lack of interest in what is going on around them
What Is Non-Spastic Cerebral Palsy?
A Philadelphia PA birth injury lawyer knows that with this type of CP, the child has fluctuating or decreased muscle tone. There are two categories of this type of CP:
Dyskinetic: Muscle tone fluctuates between being loose and being tight. The child can also have involuntary movements that can be either slow and continuous or rapid and jerky. Athetoid dyskinetic causes many physical issues and limitations. Dystonic dyskinetic causes the neck and body to be held in very stiff positions.
Ataxic: This type of non-spastic cerebral palsy is rare. Ataxic affects the child’s entire body, resulting in issues with balance, coordination, control of eye movements, control of hand movements, and precise movement control.
Contact Our Office for Help
If your baby suffered birth trauma and you suspect negligent medical care was the cause, contact a Philadelphia PA birth injury lawyer from Wieand Law Firm LLC today. We will schedule a case evaluation and determine what kind of financial compensation your family may be entitled to.
