Types of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders caused by severe damage to the brain, which affects a child's ability to control movement and posture. Cerebral palsy can result from head injuries, maternal infections and other complications during pregnancy, lack of oxygen to the brain, blood diseases, severe jaundice, and complications during mismanaged pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
Four types of cerebral palsy
There are four major types of cerebral palsy, which are classified based on type of motor impairment and what part of the body this impairment affects.
- Spastic - Seventy to eighty percent of all cases of cerebral palsy are classified as spastic cerebral palsy. Stiff, limited movements, caused by tight and contracted muscles, are characteristic of spastic cerebral palsy. There are five subcategories of spastic cerebral palsy, which are based on the body parts affected by the condition:
- Diplegia - Both arms or both legs are affected
- Hemiplegia - Only one side of the body is affected>
- Quadriplegia - All limbs are affected
- Monoplegia - Only one limb is affected (rare)
- Triplegia - Only three limbs are affected (rare)
- Athetoid - Athetoid cerebral palsy makes up about 20 percent of all cerebral palsy cases. Involuntary facial and arm movements and fluctuating levels of muscle tone characterize this form of the cerebral palsy. These uncontrollable movements affect balance and posture and make speaking, eating, grasping, and other coordination skills difficult.
- Ataxic - Ataxic cerebral palsy affects about five to ten percent of all patients with this condition. Ataxia is classified by weak muscle tone and poor coordination and balance. Children with ataxic cerebral palsy often walk with an abnormal gait and take a longer time to complete tasks, which require precision.
- Mixed - In some cases, symptoms of more than one type of cerebral palsy are present because of injuries to multiple parts of the brain. Athetoid/spastic cerebral palsy is one of the most common forms of the mixed condition. Involuntary movements and tight muscle tone characterize atehoid/spastic cerebral palsy. Approximately 10 to 20 percent of cases involve a mixed type of cerebral palsy.
Does your child have cerebral palsy?
Unfortunately, cerebral palsy is often the cause of preventable medical mistakes made by doctors, hospitals, and other medical professionals. If you suspect your child developed cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice, you may be eligible to seek compensation for the damages you and your child have endured.
If you are interested in pursuing a medical malpractice claim, it is wise to seek the early advice of a qualified medical malpractice attorney who has experience in cerebral palsy litigation. Our attorneys will evaluate your case free of charge to determine if your child's cerebral palsy was a result of a medical error. Please contact us today to speak with a qualified medical malpractice attorney.