Types of Cerebral Palsy | Free Consultation

Cerebral palsy is the result of brain or nerve damage, often caused by medical errors, birth injuries, or medical neglect. If your child suffered injuries during gestation, labor and delivery, or birth that led to their cerebral palsy diagnosis, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

To talk to someone about your case, call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today. You can connect with a cerebral palsy attorney in your state who will review your case and pursue the damages your family deserves at no out-of-pocket cost to you.

What Are The Classifications Of Cerebral Palsy?

There are four primary classifications of cerebral palsy. Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy based on the type of motor dysfunction the child suffers, which is dependent on the areas of the brain that suffered injury.

Those four main classifications of cerebral palsy include:

Spasticity
Dyskinesia
Ataxia
A mixture of two or more of the previous types of motor dysfunction

Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy is a classification of the condition that means the patient has increased muscle tone and stiff muscles. This classification is by far the most common type of cerebral palsy and likely what most people think about when they think about the condition. These children can struggle with mobility, fine motor skills, and other concerns.

There are several sub-types of spastic cerebral palsy. The sub-type depends on how much of the body or which body parts are affected by the increased muscle tone.

Spastic Diplegia

Children with spastic diplegia are primarily affected in their lower body, although there may be some upper body involvement. They may struggle with mobility and have difficulty walking. Physical therapy, bracing, and other treatment may be necessary to prevent the hip and leg muscles from becoming too tight or contractures from forming. They often walk with a “scissoring” gait, where the knees turn inward and cross.

Spastic Hemiplegia

Children with spastic hemiplegia are affected only on their left or right side, with normal motor function generally intact on the opposite side. In most cases, the child will struggle with fine motor skills or actions that require coordination between both hands. The upper body usually has more spasticity than the lower body, meaning the arm is more affected than the leg.

Spastic Quadriplegia

Children with spastic quadriplegia often have significant impairments. The increased muscle tone that is the hallmark of spastic cerebral palsy causes them to have quadriplegia. It affects both arms, both legs, and often their faces. This condition makes it difficult or impossible to walk, talk, eat, or undertake actions that require fine motor skills. They often have one or more co-occurring conditions, as well. These co-occurring conditions could include epilepsy, an intellectual disability, or concerns about vision or hearing.

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy

Children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy have unwanted, uncontrolled motor movements. There are several types of dyskinetic cerebral palsy, depending on the type of movements present. These include:

Athetoid cerebral palsy
Choreoathetoid cerebral palsy
Dystonic cerebral palsy

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy is a motor movement disorder that makes it difficult or impossible for the person to control their limbs. When they try to control motor function to perform a task, they may instead experience quick, jerky movements or slow and writhing movements.

Unlike spastic cerebral palsy when the muscle tone is always too tight, those with dyskinetic cerebral palsy experience muscle tone that goes from too tight to too loose and back again. This condition is often unpredictable and makes it impossible to use the limbs affected.

In some cases, the person may also have difficulty controlling the muscle movements of their face and head. This difficulty can affect eating, swallowing, and communication.

New Data Logger May Lead To Better Control Mechanism For Powered Wheelchairs

Powered wheelchairs are necessary for some people with cerebral palsy. However, for those with dyskinetic cerebral palsy, this proves to be a challenge. Dyskinesia causes the body to move involuntarily and each person with it will move in a different way. This proves to be a challenge for programming how a powered wheelchair should react to these unexpected movements.

A new study reported in Cerebral Palsy News Today may hold some answers. The study looked at a prototype of a portable data logger that the researchers want to use to tailor training for people with dyskinetic cerebral palsy.

The data logger uses devices called inertial measurement units on the body, they could analyze the interaction between the user and the chair. This let them capture in real-time how users of the chairs learned how to operate them.

They compared 10 people with CP and 10 controls to see how they performed different tasks. They were able to measure several differences in coordination between the two groups. Ultimately, the researchers want the data logger to use the information to compensate for the involuntary movements so that the users can move smoothly despite the random motion.

Improvements in powered wheelchair technology will help people with CP and other diseases increase their level of independence and quality of life. If your child’s condition was caused by a preventable mistake at birth, ask your cerebral palsy lawyers for resources that can help cover the cost of technology that can give your child the best possible quality of life.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Children with ataxic cerebral palsy are often the last to get a diagnosis because they are generally less affected than those with other types of the condition. They struggle most with balance and coordination. Movements that require steady, careful control may be difficult or impossible. Coloring, writing, and similar tasks may be very difficult. Walking may be unsteady. Early intervention, when possible, and therapy can help improve their abilities significantly.

Mixed Cerebral Palsy

In some cases, children will exhibit symptoms of multiple classifications of cerebral palsy. When this occurs, they receive a “mixed” diagnosis. For example, children with increased muscle tone and stiffness who also have uncontrolled movements may have spastic-dyskinetic cerebral palsy.

Cerebral Palsy Types

There are more than a dozen different types of cerebral palsy, classified based on how they affect the body, what caused them, and other factors. The types of cerebral palsy include:

Any of these types of cerebral palsy may support a medical malpractice case, depending on the circumstances surrounding your pregnancy and your child’s birth. A birth injury lawyer in your state can tell you if you have a case during a complimentary case review.

Cerebral Palsy Causes

The primary causes of cerebral palsy include:

Traumatic brain injury, either caused by an injury to the mother during pregnancy or an injury to the baby during or immediately after delivery
Abnormal brain development, sometimes caused by genetic disorders, infection, or trauma inside the womb
Bleeding in the brain, caused by a neonatal stroke, blood clotting conditions, heart defects, sickle cell disease, and other conditions
Lack of oxygen to the brain, which may occur because of a skull fracture or other trauma during birth, placental abruption, other issues with the placental or umbilical cord, some types of neonatal stroke, very low blood pressure in the mother, and many types of respiratory conditions that affect newborns

Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

Babies and children with cerebral palsy symptoms will vary from case to case. Both the areas of the body affected and the severity can vary drastically. While the hallmarks of the condition are movement and coordination issues, this may manifest in signs and symptoms that include:

Spasticity
Rigidity
Ataxia
Athetosis
Tremors and other involuntary movements
Delays in reaching milestones related to motor skills including sitting up and crawling
Consistently favoring one side of the body
Difficulty walking, such as walking on toes, with a crouched gait, or other gait problems
Excessive drooling
Difficulty swallowing or eating
Delays in speech development
Difficulty with fine motor skills
Seizures

Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis and Treatment

A cerebral palsy diagnosis depends on the doctor’s assessment of the infant, toddler, or child, and the parents’ reports of missed milestones and poor motor skills. There is no laboratory test or neuroimaging to diagnose this condition, although ultrasounds or magnetic resonance imaging may help confirm a suspected diagnosis. Instead, doctors rely on monitoring, ‘developmental screenings, and medical evaluations to rule out other causes of symptoms.

Treatment varies depending on the nature and severity of the issue. Physical therapy is almost always prescribed, as well as ongoing exercises to reduce the risk of contractures and other complications. Botulinum toxin type A and casting are also common treatments for certain symptoms. Surgery may be necessary for some children.

Cerebral Palsy Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my baby has cerebral palsy?

If your child is not meeting milestones related to movement—rolling over, sitting up, pushing up with their arms, crawling, or pulling up—you should discuss your concerns with a trusted doctor. Your doctor may recommend your baby see a specialist who can evaluate their abilities and make a diagnosis.

Can cerebral palsy be fatal?

Cerebral palsy is not progressive and will not get worse nor cause your child to pass away. However, many children with cerebral palsy require lifelong monitoring, therapy, and support.

Who is liable for cerebral palsy?

Depending on the facts of your case, the doctor who supervised your pregnancy, the doctor who delivered your child, another health care provider, or the hospital may be liable for your child’s condition. Your attorney will help you identify the liable parties and build a case against them.

What is the statute of limitations for cerebral palsy?

The deadline that applies in your medical malpractice case will vary based on your state’s statute of limitations, the statute of repose, and if the law allows for tolling for minor victims.

Cerebral Palsy Glossary Terms

What is Ataxia? Ataxia is a loss of muscle coordination. It is a common symptom in people with cerebral palsy.
What is Athetosis? Athetosis is a type of slow, writhing movement characteristic of some types of cerebral palsy.
What is Spasticity? Spasticity is when someone has stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes. It is one of the most common symptoms of cerebral palsy.

Talk to a Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Lawyer in Your State

If your baby has cerebral palsy because of a medical error, birth injury, or medical neglect, you may be eligible to hold the doctor or hospital liable. Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today. You can connect with an attorney near you who handles these cases in your state.

Robert Goldwater