Surgery for Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is caused by a brain injury that occurs before, during, or immediately after a baby is born. No two cases of cerebral palsy are alike, nor are the best treatment options. When treating a patient, a doctor must assess each individual and determine whether medications, various types of therapy, or surgery for cerebral palsy will best suit their patient's needs.

Cerebral Palsy Surgery

There are different things that cerebral palsy surgery involves. Muscles that have tightened can be loosened. This often includes the muscles in the hips, knees, and ankles, but other joint muscles can be targeted as well.

During cerebral palsy surgery, a doctor may also need to cut nerves. The doctor will only cut the nerves to certain limbs that are plagued by spasticity. The reason doctors do this is to improve the patient's control over his or her limbs, increase the patient's flexibility, and reduces the spasms a patient may experience as a result of cerebral palsy. This surgery is called a selective dorsal rhizotomy.

Orthopedic Surgery for Cerebral Palsy

People with cerebral palsy often require other surgeries for orthopedic problems that arise as a result of their condition. This happens most commonly in children with cerebral palsy. For instances, when treating a child with cerebral palsy, a doctor may recommend surgery if they have uneven limb length in their legs, a dislocation of the hip, or a spinal curve. Addressing these problems early on can make a big difference in a child's long-term mobility.

Miscellaneous Cerebral Palsy Surgery

Should a need arise, there are other types of surgeries used in treating cerebral palsy patients. For example, in some cases a person with cerebral palsy may have an outpatient surgery to have a medication pump implanted. These pumps deliver medication directly to a person's spinal cord for more affective distribution. These medication pumps are inserted under the skin in the person's abdomen. Most commonly, the pumps are used for antispasmodics such as baclofen.

Consult a Cerebral Palsy Attorney

To learn more about surgical options for cerebral palsy as well as other cerebral palsy treatments (such as BOTOX® injection therapy for cerebral palsy and physical therapy for cerebral palsy), it is important for you to contact a specialist in care. If the cerebral palsy was the result of a doctor's medical negligence, it is imperative that you speak with a cerebral palsy lawyer for a legal consultation. You or your child could be eligible to receive financial compensation to help pay for treatment for this lifelong condition.