Connecticut Spastic Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form of cerebral palsy. It affects nearly 80 percent of patients.

If your child is diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy and you would like to find out if you are entitled to financial compensation, please call our experienced cerebral palsy attorneys. Our Connecticut spastic cerebral palsy attorneys provide families with compassionate and dedicated legal representation.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy Information

The muscles of people with spastic cerebral palsy are tightened and cannot relax, especially the flexor muscles. These are the muscles that allow you to contract your arms, for example. The harder the patient or someone else tries to straighten the muscle, the more it tightens. When this happens, the elbows are pulled in to the body and the wrists and hands are pulled upward towards the chin and tightened into fists.

In the legs, spasticity pulls on the inner thighs or adductor muscles. These muscles pull the parts of the body towards its center or midline as when the arms are pulled to the sides of the body or a person’s legs pull together. In fact, these muscles pull the legs inward so much that they can cross over each other. The strong pull on the legs causes them to rotate inward. This can lead to abnormal growth of the hip socket and cause the hip to dislocate.

The relentless pull on the muscles in the legs also weakens the extensor muscles or those muscles that extend the legs. These muscles become stretched so much that some of their ability to function is lost. Spasticity affects the flexor muscles in the calves, pulling the heels up and pushing the toes down. These children often walk on their toes.

Spasticity is also associated with other conditions, including an exaggerated startle response, some mental retardation, and impaired breathing. Sometimes, because they remain constantly upright, some patients with spastic cerebral palsy develop a curvature of the spine since the muscles that normally support the spine fail to develop correctly.

Types of Spastic Cerebral Palsy

• Spastic Diplegia — Originally called Little’s Disease because it was diagnosed and recorded by Dr. William John Little, spastic diplegia affects the pelvis, hips, and legs. This is the most common form of cerebral palsy. The muscles in these areas are tight, the legs cross at the knees, and it is hard to walk. This type of movement is often called “scissoring.”
• Spastic Hemiplegia — This occurs when just one side of the body is stiff. The leg is usually less affected than the arm and hand, or the leg may be affected and require braces.
• Spastic Quadriplegia — The most severe form of the three types of spastic cerebral palsy, spastic quadriplegia can affect the arms, legs, and trunk. These children often are mentally retarded, have trouble walking and talking, and might have seizures.

Contact a Connecticut Spastic Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

If your child is born with spastic cerebral palsy, you might be entitled to compensation, depending on the cause. To discuss your case with a spastic cerebral palsy lawyer in Connecticut, please call our team today.