20% of children
diagnosed with congenital cerebral palsy
developed CP due to a brain injury during the
birthing process.
Approx. 765,000
children and adults in the United States
manifest one or more of the signs of cerebral
palsy.
8,000 - 10,000
babies and infants are diagnosed annually with
cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is
identified in 1,200 - 1,500 preschool age
children each year.
Cerebral
palsy is the second most common neurological
impairment in childhood.
Spasticity
of one or more limbs is the most common
disability now associated with new cases of
cerebral palsy.
45% of children
with cerebral palsy also develop mild or severe
epilepsy.
Of congenital
disorders, CP has the highest life-term costs
per new case, averaging $503,000 in 1992 dollars
(approx. $650,000 in 2003 dollars).
The degree of
disability with CP is: mild (24.9%), moderate
(43.8%), and severe (31.3%).
The motor disability is: diplegia (36%),
hemiplegia (20.5%), and quadriplegia (40.5%).
59% of families
with a CP child have an income of less than
$30,000 per year. The child's medical care costs
are assisted by Medicaid in 63% of families.
84.5% of
children with cerebral palsy receive physical
therapy 6 times a month, 50% receive
occupational therapy about 5 times a month and
37% see a speech therapist about 5 times a
month.
A twin pregnancy
results in a child with cerebral palsy 12 times
more often than a singleton pregnancy. This is
generally due to low birth weight and
prematurity associated with twins.
Swedish data
indicate that 36% of infants with CP were born
at less than 28 weeks gestational age, 25% at
28-32 weeks, 2.5% at 33-38 weeks, and 37% at
term (40 weeks).
How the MEDLAW
Legal Team Supports Cerebral Palsy Cases:
»
OBGYN
on staff
»
Labor
& Delivery Nurse + 4 RNs on staff
»
Concentrates
Our Practice on Birth Injury
»
Attorneys
With Over 150 years of Combined Experience;
»
Highest
Rating for Ethical Conduct by Martindale-Hubbell®;
»
Successful
Representation for Clients Nationwide.
A statute of limitations
applies to cerebral palsy medical malpractice claims, placing time
limits on the amount of time families have to file a CP medical
malpractice case.
