Medical Liability Consultants, Inc. Glossary Medical Malpractice

Cerebral Palsy Medical Malpractice is one of the causes of Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral palsy is a group of chronic conditions that disrupt and impair the brain's ability to properly control body movement and muscle coordination. When one or more specific areas of the brain are damaged during fetal development, childbirth, or the first few years of life, a child may develop cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a non-contagious, non-progressive condition for which there is no known cure. While the exact cause of cerebral palsy is often unknown, many cerebral palsy cases are preventable. If your child has developed cerebral palsy, please contact us Cerebral Palsy Statistics Statistics indicate that approximately 500,000 Americans are currently living with cerebral palsy. Every year in the United States, approximately 4,500 infants develop cerebral palsy. The majority of cerebral palsy patients develop their condition during the childbirth process. An estimated thirty percent of all patients develop cerebral palsy during fetal development. Approximately ten to twenty percent of all cerebral palsy patients acquire the condition after birth. Development During Childbirth Cerebral palsy has been linked to birth trauma such as improper dating of the pregnancy which can lead to premature delivery or overgestation. Cerebral palsy acquired during fetal development is often preventable when a physician responds appropriately to maternal and fetal risks. Cerebral palsy can develop when the flow of blood and oxygen to a child's brain is disrupted during childbirth. This disruption can occur as a result of a long labor, low amniotic fluid, a twisted umbilical cord, large fetal head size, hemorrhage, newborn lung problems, inter-cranial bleeding, and more. Trauma to a child's head caused by a difficult forceps or vacuum delivery can also cause cerebral palsy. Many of these childbirth cerebral palsy risk factors are preventable if a medical professional acts with prudence and care to promptly and appropriately treat and prevent these risk factors. Types of Cerebral Palsy There are different types of cerebral palsy: Spastic Cerebral Palsy - produces difficult and stiff movements Ataxic Cerebral Palsy - causes loss of depth perception and balance Athetoid Cerebral Palsy - produces uncontrolled or involuntary movements

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