DEFINITION OF CEREBRAL PALSY

A definition of cerebral palsy is not straight forward as the condition pertains to a group of neurological disorders often with varying levels of severity with no two victims having identical presentation. Individuals with cerebral palsy can have the same general diagnosis and to categorise the condition doctors usually consider which part of the brain is damaged. Depending on the movement disorder that is exhibited the victim may be suffering from one or more of several types known spastic, ataxic or athetoid (dyskinetic). The classification can be further refined by reference to the effects on the body which are known as hemiplegia, monoplegia, diplegia, triplegia or quadriplegia.

There are several generally accepted versions of the definition of cerebral palsy based on the above classifications and the facts that it is known to be caused during pregnancy, at birth or shortly after birth with about 80% of all cerebral palsy having no known cause :-

Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term used to describe a group of chronic disorders impairing control of movement that appear in the first few years of life and generally do not worsen over time. The term cerebral refers to the brain's two halves, or hemispheres, and palsy describes any disorder that impairs control of body movement. Faulty development or damage to motor areas in the brain disrupts the brain's ability to adequately control movement and posture. www.assistivetech.com

Some cases of cerebral palsy are as a result of congenital malformation where an infant is born with a brain defect or disorder incurred in the womb. There are a number of risk factors including :-

• Drugs, alcohol or cigarettes used by the mother during pregnancy.
• Exposure of the mother during pregnancy to infectious diseases including rubella, cytomegalovirus and toxoplasmosis.
• Physical trauma to the mother.
• Premature birth with a low birth weight.

Some cases of cerebral palsy are due to medical negligence which can include :-

• Oxygen deprivation if the baby is left in the birth canal.
• Injuries resulting from a prolapsed umbilical cord.
• Failure to detect and prevent seizures.
• Failure to prepare for and carry out an emergency caesarean section.
• Improper use of forceps or excessive vacuum extraction during delivery.

There are also certain indicators that may suggest the presence of medical negligence which include giving the baby oxygen, sending the baby to the ICU, resuscitating the baby after birth or subjecting the baby to a series of tests like MRI and CT scans.

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