Cerebral palsy is a birth injury that occurs when the brain is injured before or during the birth process. In some cases, this injury is caused by naturally-occurring factors; however, many times cerebral palsy is caused by medical malpractice. If your infant has been injured by the actions of a medical provider in the Phoenix, Arizona area, it is essential that you obtain the services of experienced cerebral palsy attorneys. They can help you to make important legal decisions during this difficult time, as well as help you to receive compensation for the medical bills and therapy needed to treat your child.
The human brain requires a constant supply of oxygen that is supplied by red blood cells. When the blood flow, and therefore the oxygen supply, is cut off from the brain for any length of time, brain cells begin to weaken and die. The severity of brain damage incurred depends on how long the tissue is forced to go without oxygen. In the vast majority of cases, cerebral palsy is caused by this type of brain damage. Our attorneys can help determine whether the injury was caused by neglect or malpractice on the part of the doctors or other medical staff.
Cerebral palsy describes the physical manifestations of a brain injury sustained during birth. Depending on the severity of the injury, children may experience a loss of muscle control that ranges from twitching to an inability to walk or care for themselves. Although they result in similar physical characteristics, Erb’s palsy, Klumpke’s palsy, and brachial plexus palsy are not related to brain injury and will be discussed on separate pages.
Once a child has cerebral palsy, the condition lasts a lifetime. As children grow, they may be able to take advantage of specialized therapies and medications designed to help them overcome their lack of muscle tone, and it’s important to remember that cerebral palsy cannot get worse with time.
If you live in Phoenix or other areas of Arizona and your child has cerebral palsy, the attorneys of Phillips & Associates urge you to read more about the different types of cerebral palsy and the promising treatments that are available to help your child succeed in life.
Muscle tone describes the “tightness” that the muscle is able to achieve when it flexes. A medium amount of muscle tone is desirable because it produces smooth, fluid movements. The brain of a person with cerebral palsy cannot properly regulate muscle tone.
In the case of spastic cerebral palsy, muscle tone is too tight, resulting in stiff movements. People with spastic cerebral palsy move jerkily and may have difficulty releasing objects being gripped in their hands. Nearly 50 percent of all people with cerebral palsy have the spastic variation, making it the most common type of cerebral palsy case brought to our Phoenix, Arizona attorneys.
Children with ataxic cerebral palsy have muscle tone that is very low – the opposite of spastic cerebral palsy. Much rarer than other forms of the condition, ataxic cerebral palsy causes balance and depth perception problems in affected children.
Many Phoenix, Arizona parents who seek representation from our cerebral palsy attorneys also report that their children tend to have shaky hands and need more time to complete detailed activities or projects.
Children with athetoid cerebral palsy have a hard time regulating the amount of tone in their muscles, meaning that they may have either high or low muscle tone without warning. Walking and even sitting upright can be very difficult for these children.
One of the most recognizable features of athetoid cerebral palsy is the tendency to make involuntary movements in the arms and legs and facial grimaces. These movements are very difficult to control; oftentimes, the child will have to use enormous concentration to achieve a task such as reaching for a toy.
It is estimated that about 20 percent of people with cerebral palsy experience the athetoid variety. Our attorneys can help you to determine the best legal course of action if your family has been affected by cerebral palsy. Contact Phillips & Associates today for a consultation.
It is estimated that about 25 percent of children with cerebral palsy have one or more types, a condition known as mixed cerebral palsy. Our attorneys understand the difficulties of getting an accurate diagnosis in the case of mixed cerebral palsy, and want to reduce your stress level by helping you to negotiate your legal case as smoothly as possible.
No matter which kind of cerebral palsy your child has, it is your responsibility to explore every resource available to your child. If you live in Phoenix, or elsewhere in Arizona, and would like more information about cerebral palsy compensation, contact the medical malpractice attorneys of Phillips & Associates today.
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