Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries & Medical Malpractice A brachial plexus injury is a birth injury affecting the brachial plexus nerves (complex nerves that control the muscles of the fingers, hands, arms and shoulders). Brachial plexus palsy is a name used to describe this type of birth injury
August 04,2010
Can Cerebral Palsy Be Prevented During Pregnancy?
There are so many issues that can arise during pregnancy, some more concerning than others. It is the responsibility of the pregnant woman’s doctor to monitor the health of the mother and developing baby and take care of medical issues if they arise. If the mother’s health is not properl
August 04,2010
Forceps Deliveries and the Risk of Developing Cerebral Palsy
Forceps are an alternative to vacuum-assisted delivery for removing the baby from the birth canal when complications such as size or positioning become an issue. Forceps are a type of large tweezer with spoon-like ends that fit around the baby’s head. Unfortunately, forceps have also been kn
August 03,2010
New “Brainfingers” Technology for Kids with Cerebral Palsy
We try to monitor the news wires and keep up to date on what is going on in the cerebral palsy community. Today, I came across a story that was really touching and interesting. It’s a story about two grandparents who have taken care of their son, Malachi, for 22 years. Cerebral palsy took Mal
Treating women who are at risk of delivering prematurely with magnesium sulfate reduces the risk of cerebral palsy, according to a study performed by Dr. Caroline Crowther. “The new Cochrane review shows there is now evidence to support giving magnesium sulfate therapy to women at risk of very
August 03,2010
What Should I Know About Cerebral Palsy Gait?
Cerebral palsy gait problems are typically the result of neurological damages to the brain that control the muscles and other parts of the body related to movement. The ability to move is a very complex process that involves the cooperation of sensory, motor and central nervous systems. There are
August 03,2010
Should I Bank My Child’s Cord Blood?
Cerebral palsy that was the result of a stroke in utero stopped young Chloe Levine from developing like other children. However, after an experimental infusion of her own stem cells–taken from her umbilical cord and stored after birth–Chloe is running, playing sports and coloring at t
August 02,2010
What are the Symptoms of Hypotonia?
Hypotonia is another term for abnormally low muscle tone, which often results in reduced muscle strength. It is not a specific medical disorder, but rather a manifestation of a disorder that affects motor control. Identifying hypotonia is usually a straightforward process, however, diagnosing the u
August 02,2010
How Does Spastic Cerebral Palsy Affect Muscles and Joints?
Spastic cerebral palsy is one of the most common forms of cerebral palsy, and accounts for nearly 80 percent of all cerebral palsy cases. Those that suffer from this specific classification generally have stiff muscles that often stay in an extended contracted state, and as a result, normal moveme
August 02,2010
Hand Surgery for a Child With Cerebral Palsy?
We recently received this question via email: “My daughter isn’t able to use her hand very well. She can bend her elbow well enough and move her shoulder, but the hand is not able to perform finger-to-finger grasping movements. I have looked everywhere for a doctor who specializes in HAN