Cerebral palsy is often the result of brain damage caused by excessive force during a vacuum extraction or a cesarean section birth failure on the part of the medical team. This condition is a disorder that affects coordination and muscle movement, and while detecting it early can help improve the victim’s quality of life, there is no cure. As a Columbus, OH, cerebral palsy attorney I can help you decide whether you have an actionable legal claim and help secure the recovery you deserve to give your child the best treatment options possible.
Kinds of Cerebral Palsy
There are four main kinds of cerebral palsy: athetoid cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy, ataxic cerebral palsy, and hypotonic cerebral palsy. The first, spastic cerebral palsy, is typically characterized by stiff, tense, and awkward muscle movements, exaggerated reflexes, and an overall lack in coordination. Spastic cerebral palsy is further broken down into three distinct conditions:
- Spastic Diplegia: characterized by difficulty walking due to tense hip and leg muscles that result in legs crossing at the knee.
- Spastic Hemiplegia: characterized by symptoms mainly affecting a single side of the body and sometimes prevents the leg and arm on the affected side from developing normally.
- Spastic Quadriplegia: characterized by symptoms that affected the legs, body, and arms and limit talking and walking ability. This is the most severe type of spastic cerebral palsy.
Athetoid cerebral palsy, also known as dyskinetic cerebral palsy, is the most common type of cerebral palsy after spastic cerebral palsy. It is characterized by an uncontrollable combination of very relaxed and very tense muscles. This is often displayed by issues like bad posture, a difficulty speaking, and facial issues like drool or grimacing. Ataxic cerebral palsy is generally characterized by disrupted depth perception and balance that leads to poor coordination. Victims often find it difficult to keep their balance and often have a lack of fine motor skills. Finally, hypotonic cerebral palsy is known for its floppy muscle tone.
As mentioned above, cerebral palsy is often the result of a birth injury that was caused by a mistake on the part of the medical team. I can help! I serve the Columbus, Ohio area and will fight for your rights and I’ll Make Them Pay!® Reach out for more information today.