Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that impact someone’s ability to move or maintain balance and posture. It is the most common motor disability in children with symptoms that may vary from person-to-person. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder, which means it affects the brain, and its name indicates just that.
Cerebral means brain while palsy refers to loss or impairment of motor function. In order to understand cerebral palsy, it is important to understand what part of the brain it impacts.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
The majority of cerebral palsy cases are congenital, which means the child was likely born with the condition. Even if the child is diagnosed many years later, it is likely they developed cerebral palsy before, during, or shortly after birth.
A child may also be diagnosed with acquired cerebral palsy. In this case, the child’s condition developed more than 28 days after birth. In most cases, acquired cerebral palsy is due to an accident, such as a fall or a car accident. It may also be caused by an infection, such as meningitis or encephalitis. There are cases where no cause is known that led to a child’s development of cerebral palsy.
Abnormal Development
If there is any interruption of the normal growth process before a child is born, there could be a brain malformation. This malformation could interrupt the signals between brain cells as well as the rest of the body. In some cases, this malformation could be genetic, but it is more commonly caused by infections, fevers, trauma, or other unhealthy conditions in the womb.
Brain Bleeding
Blocked or broken blood vessels can cause bleeding inside the baby’s brain, which is known as a fetal stroke. This could be caused by blood clots in the placenta or due to weak blood vessels in the brain. If the mother has high blood pressure during pregnancy, it can lead to fetal or neonatal stroke. Pelvic inflammatory disease has also been linked to fetal stroke.
Brain’s Outer Layer
Cerebral palsy affects the outer layer of the brain, which is known as the cerebral cortex. This is the outer layer of the brain that controls muscle movements. In some cases, the cerebral cortex does not form normally before birth, while in others the cerebral cortex may have been damaged in some way. This could have been before, during, or after birth.
Damage to Brain’s White Matter
It is also possible that your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by damage to the white matter of the brain. The medical term for white matter is periventricular leukomalacia, or PVL. When white matter is damaged, the damage will appear as tiny holes. These tiny holes create gaps that interfere with the signals white matter sends to other parts of the brain and the rest of the body. Researchers indicate that between 26 and 34 weeks of pregnancy is when white matter is vulnerable to injury.
Lack of Oxygen
Another issue that could cause cerebral palsy is lack of oxygen to the brain. It is not uncommon for babies to suffer slight losses of oxygen during the birthing process. However, if the child’s oxygen is cut off for a long time, it can lead to brain damage. Something called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy can also destroy tissue in the brain’s outer layer.
If the mother has low blood pressure, the placenta detaches or the uterus ruptures, there is risk of brain damage that could lead to cerebral palsy. If your child was seriously deprived of oxygen during birth, ask your pediatrician about CP if you notice they aren’t hitting their developmental milestones or they seem abnormally floppy or stiff.
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you believe it was caused by carelessness or negligence, choosing a specialized and experienced cerebral palsy attorney might help ease the burden. getting substantial compensation for cerebral palsy can enable caregivers to pay for treatments. If your child’s CP was caused by a preventable medical mistake, this may be the best option for your family.