Cerebral Palsy Surgery

If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you're probably worried and wondering what to do next. The first step is making sure your child gets the right medical care. Doctors who know about cerebral palsy can check your child and determine the best way to help. They may suggest different treatments, including surgery in some cases.

It's normal to have many questions about cerebral palsy surgeries. You'll want to know how they work, the risks, and how they might help your child. This information can help you make good choices about your child's care.

While learning about medical options, it's also wise to talk to a lawyer who knows about birth injuries. They can look at what happened and tell you if someone made a mistake that caused your child's cerebral palsy. A lawyer can ensure you seek enough money for your child's medical care and other needs.

When looking for the right legal representation, start by contacting the legal network of Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance. We can connect you with a trusted birth injury lawyer ready to assess your rights.

Understanding Cerebral Palsy

Before we talk about surgeries, it helps to know the basics about cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy affects how a person moves and keeps their balance. It happens because of a brain injury before, during, or soon after birth.

There are a few main types of cerebral palsy:

• Spastic cerebral palsy makes muscles too tight and stiff. This is the most common type.
• Dyskinetic cerebral palsy causes unwanted movements that are hard to control.
• Ataxic cerebral palsy affects balance and coordination.
• Mixed cerebral palsy combines symptoms from different types.

The effects of cerebral palsy are different for each child. Some kids have mild symptoms and can walk on their own. Others need a lot of help with daily activities. A doctor who knows about cerebral palsy can tell you more about your child's specific situation.

When Surgery Might Help

Not every child with cerebral palsy needs surgery. Doctors often try other treatments first, like physical therapy, braces, or medicine. However, for some children, surgery can make a big difference in how well they move and feel.

Here are some reasons a doctor might suggest surgery:

• To help a child walk better or use their arms more easily
• To fix bones or joints that aren't lined up right
• To ease muscle tightness and pain
• To help with feeding or breathing problems

The type of surgery depends on each child's needs. A skilled surgeon will explain the options and help you decide what's best for your child.

Common Cerebral Palsy Surgeries

Several surgeries can help kids with the effects of cerebral palsy. Here are some of the main ones:

Orthopedic Surgery

This type of surgery focuses on bones, muscles, and joints. It can help kids move better and have less pain. Some examples are:

• Muscle Lengthening: This surgery makes tight muscles longer so they're easier to move. It's often done on leg muscles to help with walking.
• Tendon Transfer: The surgeon moves a tendon from one part of the body to another. This can help muscles work better together.
• Osteotomy: The surgeon cuts and reshapes bones to improve joint alignment, which can make walking easier and reduce pain.
• Hip Surgery: Some kids with cerebral palsy have hip problems that make walking or sitting difficult. Surgery can fix the hip joint and ease pain.
• Spine Surgery: If a child's spine is curved (scoliosis), surgery can straighten it. This helps with sitting, breathing, and overall comfort.

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy

This surgery aims to reduce muscle stiffness in the legs. The surgeon cuts some of the nerves that go to the leg muscles. This can help a child move more smoothly and with less pain, and it's usually for kids who have spastic cerebral palsy in their legs.

After this surgery, a child needs a lot of physical therapy to learn how to use their "new" legs. It can take months or even a year to see the full results. But for many kids, it greatly affects how well they can walk and move around.

Baclofen Pump Surgery

Some kids with cerebral palsy take a medicine called baclofen to help with muscle stiffness. But taking it as a pill can cause side effects. A baclofen pump is a small device inserted under the skin that sends the medication to the spine. This means the child can get the right amount of medication with fewer side effects.

The surgery to put in a baclofen pump is usually quick. The pump goes under the skin of the belly, and a thin tube goes to the spine. The doctor can adjust how much medicine the pump gives through a computer. The pump must be refilled every few months with a needle through the skin.

Gastrostomy Tube Surgery

Some children with cerebral palsy have trouble eating or swallowing safely. A gastrostomy tube (G-tube) is a feeding tube that goes right into the stomach. It lets liquid food go straight to the stomach so the child gets good nutrition.

Putting in a G-tube is usually a simple surgery. The tube goes through a small cut in the belly. After healing, the child can get food, water, and medicine through the tube. This can help them grow better and stay healthier.

Getting Ready for Surgery

If your child needs surgery, there's a lot to think about and do to get ready. Here are some important steps:

• Talk to the surgeon: Ensure you understand why the surgery is needed, how it will help, and the risks. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
• Get a second opinion: It's okay to talk to another doctor to ensure surgery is the best choice. Your child's regular doctor can help you find someone for a second opinion.
• Plan for recovery: Find out how long your child will be in the hospital and what kind of care they'll need at home. You might need to take time off work or get extra help.
• Talk to your child: Explain the surgery in a way your child can understand. Let them ask questions and share their worries.
• Get medical tests: The doctor might want blood tests or other checks to make sure your child is ready for surgery.
• Follow pre-surgery instructions: The doctor will tell you when to stop eating and drinking before surgery. They might also give other instructions to follow.
• Pack for the hospital: Bring comfortable clothes, favorite toys, and anything else that will make your child feel better in the hospital.

Surgery Day and Recovery

On the day of surgery, you'll go to the hospital and check in. The nurses will get your child ready. You'll meet the surgeon and anesthesiologist (the doctor who keeps your child asleep during surgery) to ask any last questions.

After surgery, your child will wake up in a recovery room. They might feel groggy or uncomfortable. Nurses will check on them often and give medicine for pain. When your child is awake enough, they'll move to a regular hospital room.

The time in the hospital depends on the type of surgery. It might be just one day or several weeks. During this time, your child might start physical therapy or other treatments to help them recover.

When you go home, you must follow the doctor's instructions carefully. This might include:

• Giving pain medicine
• Keeping the surgery area clean
• Helping your child do exercises
• Watching for signs of problems
• Going to follow-up appointments

Recovery can take weeks or months. During this time, your child might need extra help at home and school. But with good care and patience, many kids see big improvements in their movement and feeling.

Possible Problems After Surgery

All surgeries have some risks. It's important to know what can go wrong so you can watch for problems. Some possible issues after cerebral palsy surgery are:

• Infection: This can happen in the surgery area or elsewhere in the body. Signs include fever, redness, swelling, or oozing from the cut.
• Bleeding: A little bleeding is normal, but too much can be dangerous.
• Pain: Some pain is expected, but it should improve over time. If it gets worse, tell the doctor.
• Problems with anesthesia: Some kids react badly to the medicine that keeps them asleep during surgery.

If you notice anything that doesn't seem right after your child's surgery, call the doctor right away. Quick action can stop small problems from becoming big ones.

When Surgery Goes Wrong

Most of the time, cerebral palsy surgeries help kids feel better and move more easily. But sometimes, things don't go as planned. If a doctor, nurse, or hospital worker makes a big mistake, it's called medical malpractice. Some examples of things that can go wrong are:

• Leaving surgical tools inside the body
• Giving too much or too little anesthesia
• Not watching the patient closely enough after surgery
• Not treating an infection quickly

If you think something went wrong with your child's surgery, it's important to talk to a lawyer who knows about medical cases. They can look at what happened and tell you if someone made a serious mistake. If they did, you might get money to help pay for your child's care.

Remember, not all bad results mean someone made a mistake. Sometimes, even when doctors do everything right, there can still be problems. A lawyer from the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance network can determine whether what happened was just bad luck or if someone did something wrong.

How a Lawyer Can Help

When a child has cerebral palsy, there are many things to think about. You're focused on getting your child the best care, but you might also wonder if someone's mistake caused the problem. A birth injury attorney from our network of Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance can help in several ways:

• Looking at medical records: A lawyer can get your child's medical records and have experts review them. This can show if doctors made mistakes during pregnancy, birth, or right after.
• Explaining your rights: If someone's mistake caused your child's cerebral palsy, you might have the right to get money to help with care. A lawyer can explain what you're allowed to ask for.
• Dealing with insurance companies: Insurance companies often try to pay as little as possible. A lawyer can talk to them and fight for your family's needs.
• Reducing stress: Having a child with special needs is hard enough. A lawyer can handle the legal stuff so you can focus on your family.

Lawyers who take on birth injury cases usually work on something called a contingency fee. You do not pay them unless they win money for you. Then, they get a percentage of what they win. This lets families get legal help even if they can't afford to pay a lawyer upfront.

When to Call a Birth Injury Lawyer

If you're wondering about calling a lawyer, it's usually best to do it sooner rather than later. Here's why:

• There are time limits: Each state has laws about how long you have to start a legal case. If you wait too long, you might lose the chance to get help.
• Evidence is fresher: The sooner a lawyer can examine what happened, the easier it is to find good evidence. Medical records might be easier to get, and people's memories might be clearer.
• You can focus on your child: Once you have a lawyer working on the legal side, you can put all your energy into helping your child.
• You'll know your options: Even if you decide not to pursue a case, talking to a lawyer helps you understand what you could do. This allows you to make the best choice for your family.

Remember, talking to a lawyer doesn't mean you have to sue anyone. It's just a way to learn about your choices and rights. Many lawyers will talk to you for free at first to see if they can help.

Call a Cerebral Palsy Attorney Today

If you're feeling overwhelmed or have questions about your child's cerebral palsy, consider contacting the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance to get access to respected attorneys. A cerebral palsy lawyer will talk to you for free to see if they can help. Don't wait - reach out to a birth injury lawyer today to learn more about how they can support your family.