Understanding Cerebral Palsy: Causes, Symptoms, and Legal Recourse

Approximately one in every 345 children has cerebral palsy, a movement disorder that impacts motor function, resulting in muscle weakness and coordination issues. Cerebral palsy can occur before, during, or after birth due to brain damage, typically being diagnosed during a child’s formative years.

In some cases, cerebral palsy may be caused by a physician’s negligence. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, do not hesitate to contact our Lexington birth injury attorneys to learn more about your rights.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition that affects a child’s ability to move and balance, and often delays developmental milestones. Most commonly, cerebral palsy is caused by hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition that deprives an infant’s brain of oxygen. 

The following have been identified as causes of cerebral palsy before and during birth:

• Premature birth
• Congenital malformations impact an infant’s neurological development
• Infections in the brain or spinal cord
• Forceps-assisted delivery or vacuum extraction delivery
• Genetic issues impacting a fetus’s brain development
• Kernicterus, which is damage to the brain caused by the buildup of bilirubin (produced by the liver)
• Meconium aspiration, which happens when an infant breathes in meconium (a sticky substance) before delivery
• Lack of blood flow or oxygen to the infant’s brain

Causes of cerebral palsy after delivery may include:

• Trauma
• Infection, strokes, or bleeding in the brain
• Kernicterus
• Physical abuse
• Asphyxiation and lack of oxygen to the brain

Common Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

The symptoms of cerebral palsy can range from mild to moderate, but common symptoms may include:

• Stiff muscles or variations in muscle tone
• Exaggerated reflexes
• Slow or squirming movements
• Favoring one side of the body
• Trouble walking: Can include a scissor-like walk or wide gait
• Problems with speech
• Trouble chewing or swallowing
• Learning disabilities
• Delays in developmental milestones, such as sitting up or crawling
• Vision issues
• Seizures and epilepsy
• Pain or trouble with feeling sensations

How Can a Birth Injury Attorney Help Me?

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, your OB/GYN or treating physician may have failed to take the appropriate steps to keep your infant safe. For instance, fetal monitoring strips can show if your baby is at an increased risk of cerebral palsy. If your physician fails to monitor your child during delivery properly, then you may have a valid medical malpractice claim against your doctor.

Although not all cases of cerebral palsy are preventable, it is your physician’s responsibility to detect the condition and take all measures to reduce your child’s risk of developmental delays. At Wilt Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to helping families secure the financial resources they need to help with medical bills and other expenses related to a birth injury. We believe that the liable party should pay for their wrongdoing, and we are devoted to helping you obtain maximum compensation.

Reach Out to Our Birth Injury Lawyers Today

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to a physician’s carelessness, know that you are not alone. Even though physicians make mistakes like anyone else, that does not mean the financial burden of raising a child with disabilities should be placed on the parents.

At Wilt Injury Lawyers, our birth injury attorneys in Lexington, KY, are prepared to collect evidence surrounding your child’s birth to establish if your treating physician deviated from the expected standard of care. We are committed to assisting you during this difficult time. To learn more or arrange your free case review, contact us online or by phone today.