Cerebral Palsy History

The story of cerebral palsy begins with an English orthopedic surgeon by the name of William Little who published the first medical descriptions of a neurological disorder affecting children in the early stages of life in the 1860s.

These documents report a disorder characterized by stiff and spastic muscles in the arms and legs causing involuntary movements, trouble in grasping and holding objects, and trouble with walking normally. Children with this little known disorder ultimately did not show signs of improvement with age. This specific disorder became known as Little's Disease and is now known as Spastic Diplegia.

As time passed, doctors and researchers found spastic diplegia was one of several disorders that affected movement control due to brain trauma in newborns. These disorders were grouped together under the single term Cerebral Palsy.

Little reasoned that in most instances, children with cerebral palsy were born following complicated deliveries that often resulted in a lack of oxygen to the baby's brain. This shortage of oxygen damaged sensitive brain tissues directly responsible for the controlling movement of muscles throughout the body. Scientists and researchers confirmed these observations in the 1980s with a government-backed study of more than 35,000 births across the United States.

The future of cerebral palsy is in continued research. Biomedical research has led to significant changes in understanding, diagnosing, and treating children with cerebral palsy. The early detection and identification of traits associated with cerebral palsy gives a child the best opportunity for developing to their full potential.

Diagnostic techniques have significantly improved over the years - advanced brain imaging, gait analysis, and genetic testing provide not only fulfill a diagnostic purpose but treatment plans as well. Medications, surgery, and braces can often improve muscle coordination and help treat the associated medical problems associated with cerebral palsy.

Though researchers continue to make great strides toward preventing and treating cerebral palsy, what are childrens and families to do now? Regardless of how cerebral palsy developed in your child, learning more about legal rights, options, and responsibilities is key to ongoing treatment for your child. Contact the Rasansky Law Firm and speak with our cerebral palsy attorneys for a full overview of options available to you, your child, and your family. Contact us online, or call 1-800-Attorney (1-800-288.6769) to speak with us free of charge about your specific situation.

We demand strict professional standards. Our Dallas-based attorneys are among the finest cerebral palsy lawyers and have resolved many multi-million dollar personal injury cases. We are passionate about our roles as advocates and treat our clients with complete respect and compassion. We are committed to utilizing all available legal advantages and tactics to successfully resolve your cerebral palsy claim.