TREATMENT OF CEREBRAL PALSY

With so many different causes of cerebral palsy, it is no surprise that it takes many forms. Every person with cerebral palsy is a unique individual, but is likely to be classified as having a particular type of cerebral palsy. Classification can be according to the type of movement disorder and/or by the number of limbs affected.

Classification by Number of Limbs Involved

• Quadriplegia - all four limbs are involved.
• Diplegia - all four limbs are involved but the legs are more severely affected.
• Hemiplegia - One side of the body is affected, usually the arm more than the leg.
• Triplegia - Three limba are affected, usually the arms more than the one leg.
• Monoplegia - Only one limb is affected, usually an arm.

Classification by Movement Disorder

The location of the brain injury will determine how movement is affected.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type and is caused by damage to the motor cortex. Spastic muscles are tight and stiff, which limit movement. Normal muscles work in pairs: when one group contracts, the other group relaxes to allow free movement in the desired direction. Spastic muscles become active together and block effective movement. This muscular "tug-of-war" is called co-contraction. Spasticity may be very mild and affect only a few movements, or very severe and affect the whole body. The amount of spasticity usually changes over time.

Choreo-Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

Choreo-Athetoid cerebral palsy results from damage to the basal ganglia or cerebellum and leads to difficulty in controlling and co-ordinating movement. Children may have involuntary movements (which frequently cease while they sleep), or have difficulty with skills that require coordinated movements such as speech or reaching and grasping objects smoothly. Some terms commonly used to describe these involuntary movements include:

• Athetosis - slow, writhing movements, particularly in the hands and face
• Ataxia - unsteady walking and balance problems. Ataxia results from damage to the cerebellum, the brain's major center of balance.
• Chorea - jerky movements of the head, arms, or legs
• Dystonia - twisting movements and postures of the trunk or limbs

Mixed-type Cerebral Palsy

When areas of the brain affecting both muscle tone and voluntary movement are affected, a diagnosis of "Mixed-Type cerebral palsy" may be given. Usually the spasticity is more obvious at first, with involuntary movement increasing as the child develops.

Note that the classifications of movement disorder and number of limbs involved are usually combined (e.g. spastic diplegia).

A Cerebral Palsy Lawyer will provide a FREE consultation regarding suspected birth injury. A Cerebral Palsy Lawyer will investigate your case at no charge, and work on a contingency fee, which means that no money will be owed unless money is recovered for you by settlement or verdict.

INJURYFIRMS.COM: CEREBRAL PALSY TREATMENT