DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog

Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding partner     

“A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.” - Helen Keller

Cerebral palsy is a condition that can involve brain and nervous system functions, limiting a person's ability to move, learn, hear, see, and think.  Palsies develop due to damage to the developing brain.  Cerebral palsy usually develops by age two or three, and it is a non-progressive brain disorder, which means that the brain damage does not continue to worsen throughout life. However, the symptoms due to the brain damage often do change over time; sometimes getting better and sometimes getting worse. Cerebral palsy affects between two and four children out of every 1,000 live births. The United Cerebral Palsy Association estimates that more than 500,000 Americans have cerebral palsy. 

It is estimated that between 35% and 50% of all children with cerebral palsy will have an accompanying seizure disorder and some level of mental retardation.  Affected children also have a tendency to develop learning disabilities, along with vision, speech, hearing, or language problems. 

Symptoms are usually seen before a child is 2 years old, and sometimes begin as early as 3 months. Parents may notice that their child is delayed reaching certain developmental stages such as sitting, rolling, crawling, or walking.  There are several different types of cerebral palsy. Some people have a mixture of symptoms.

Symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy, the most common type, include:

• Muscles that are very tight and do not stretch, which may tighten up even more over time;
• Abnormal gait with arms tucked in toward the sides, knees crossed or touching, legs make "scissors" movements, walk on the toes;
• Joints are tight and do not open up all the way (called joint contracture); and
• Muscle weakness or loss of movement in a group of muscles (paralysis).
   

Although there is a wide spectrum of symptoms, some other common symptoms of cerebral palsy include:

• Abnormal movements (twisting, jerking, or writhing) of the hands, feet, arms, or legs while awake, which gets worse during periods of stress;
• Tremors; and
• Loss of coordination.

Decreased intelligence or learning disabilities are common, but intelligence can be normal.  Many people with cerebral palsy have speech problems, hearing or vision deficits, seizures, and suffer pain and discomfort.

Cerebral palsy is caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain. Most of these problems occur as the baby grows in the womb or during the delivery process, but they can happen at any time during the first 2 years of life, while the baby's brain is still developing.  Sometimes, these injuries are preventable, yet brought about by medical errors.

Examples of cerebral palsy caused by the failure of medical providers to meet applicable standards of care, include:

• Undiagnosed or untreated infections during pregnancy that may damage a fetus' developing nervous system;
• Undiagnosed or treated jaundice in the infant;
• Bleeding in the brain that goes untreated;
• Severe oxygen deprivation to the brain or significant trauma to the head during labor and delivery;
• Leaving the child in the birth canal too long causing a lack of oxygen to the brain;
• Failure to detect a prolapsed cord (the umbilical cord can wrap around the child's neck, cutting off oxygen to the brain);
• Failure to perform a cesarean section in the presence of fetal distress;
• Improper use of forceps during delivery;
• Excessive use of vacuum extraction;
• Failure to recognize and treat seizures following delivery;
• Not responding to changes in the fetal heart rate; and
• Failure to plan a cesarean with a high birth weight infant.

Although life can be extremely challenging for  those with cerebral palsy, as well as the parents, siblings, and other family members, there are many organizations and support groups that can help people face and overcome those challenges.

The following is a list of readings, organizations, and special agencies whose purpose is to provide education about cerebral palsy and other disabilities and information to assist families with their needs, which I hope you find useful:

United Cerebral Palsy
http://www.ucp.org/
1660 L Street, N.W., Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
(800) 872 – 5827/(202) 776-0406
E-mail: info@ucp.org

UCP is a national organization for people with cerebral palsy and their families. Through its local chapters, it provides a variety of services, including information and referral, parent support, advocacy, and educational and work programs for people with cerebral palsy. Fact sheets on selected issues related to cerebral palsy are available, as well as publications from a variety of publishers and organizations. Many publications can be downloaded from the website at no charge.

Association of University Centers on Disabilities
http://www.aucd.org/
1010 Wayne Avenue
Suite 920
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 588-8252

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is a membership organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs.  Through its members, AUCD is a resource for local, state, national, and international agencies, organizations, and policy makers concerned about people living with developmental and other disabilities and their families. Members engage in a range of interdisciplinary activities including: exemplary services for children, adults, and families; academic training; basic and applied research; training and technical assistance to schools, communities, and all levels of government; policy advocacy; program evaluation; and dissemination of best practices and new information.  AUCD programs also train the next generation of leaders in disability-related research, training, service delivery, and policy advocacy to insure that this essential work continues.

American Physical Therapy Association
http://www.apta.org/
1111 N.  Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(800) 999-2782/(703) 684 - 2782

The APTA has a free list of publications, "Publications of Interest to Parent and Educators of Handicapped Children." They can also direct you to the APTA chapter in your area.

ABLEDATA
http://www.abledata.com/
8455 Colesville Road, Suite 935
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(800) 227 - 0216

ABLEDATA is a national database covering information on assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment. Those interested can search the database free of charge from the ABLEDATA web site, or can have an information specialist perform a search for a small fee.  ABLEDATA publishes an assistive technology fact sheet and consumer guides.

Brian Injury Association of America
http://www.biausa.org/
1608 Spring Hill Road
Suite 110
Vienna, VA 22182
(703) 761-0750

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is the leading national organization serving and representing individuals, families and professionals who are touched by a life-altering, often devastating, traumatic brain injury (TBI). Together with its network of more than 40 chartered state affiliates, as well as hundreds of local chapters and support groups across the country, the BIAA provides information, education and support to assist the 3.17 million Americans currently living with traumatic brain injury and their families. 

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