Spastic Cerebral Palsy - Nature or Nurture?
The most commonly occurring form of this condition which affects over half of all sufferers is spastic cerebral palsy. In about 10% of cases it occurs as a mixed form most often associated with athetoid movements and occasionally it occurs mixed with the ataxic form of the condition however all three forms are rarely present together. The word spastic refers to muscle tone being too high or tight which causes stiff and jerky movements.
Children affected by spastic cerebral palsy usually have difficulty moving from one position to another and often cannot easily hold or release objects; however these rigid movements can often be controlled drugs, therapy and equipment. If both legs are affected it is called spastic diplegia and walking may be difficult because tight muscles in the hips and legs cause the legs to turn inward and cross at the knees which causes a characteristic walking rhythm known as the scissors gait. If just one side of the body is affected the condition is called spastic hemiplegia and the arm is usually more severely affected than the leg. Most severe of all is spastic quadriplegia in which all four limbs together with the trunk are affected. Children with spastic quadriplegia usually have mental retardation, problems with the muscles controlling the mouth and tongue and difficulty in speaking. Some children also suffer from hemiparetic tremors, in which uncontrollable shaking affects the limbs on one side of the body and impairs normal movement.
Two children out of every thousand born in the United States have some form of this condition, the majority of which involve spastic cerebral palsy. Statistics show that at least 6,500 pre-school children are diagnosed each year and in total about 500,000 people suffer to some degree from this condition. About 90% of all cases are naturally occurring as a result of what may be termed as a birth defect however the remaining 10% are probably caused as a result of a birth injury due to medical malpractice. In these cases it is possible to take legal action for the potential recovery of substantial compensation.
Spastic cerebral palsy is classified according to the number of limbs involved. One side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body so that when one side of the brain is damaged the effects are seen on the other side of the body. Medical practitioners classify spastic cerebral palsy as follows:
- spastic quadriplegia - all four of the limbs are involved
- spastic diplegia - either both arms or both legs are involved
- spastic hemiplegia - one side is affected, usually the arm more than the leg
- spastic triplegia - three limbs are involved, usually one leg and both arms
- spastic monoplegia - one limb is affected, usually an arm
Please consider our cerebral palsy information which contains an overview of this condition and its causes and if you believe that your child's condition is as a result of medical malpractice and you would like free advice on cerebral palsy settlements from a specialist attorney just complete the contact form and a member of The Association of Trial Lawyers of America will telephone to discuss your child's claim with no further obligation.