A Birth Injury Lawyer Explains
Cerebral palsy is a form of brain damage that is caused when a brain injury or brain malformation occurs while the brain is still developing, either before, during or after birth. The effects of the initial nerve damage can be severe and lifelong. However, recent advances in medical treatments are offering new hope to patients and families affected by cerebral palsy.
New Treatments Being Developed
In both the United States and abroad, physicians have been experimenting with new treatments that use the stem cells from a child’s umbilical cord blood. Although the treatment is still in the early stages of development, it is showing great promise for helping to treat the developmental setbacks caused by birth trauma.
Stem cells are a kind of “one size fits all” cell that can develop into other kinds of cells that the body uses (blood, nerve, muscle, etc.) In the case of cerebral palsy patients, these cells may help regenerate the brain functions that were lost during the birth trauma they experienced.
One common cause of cerebral palsy and other birth injuries is the lack of blood flow to the brain during birth. With the stem cells from umbilical blood, the sections of the brain damaged by hypoxia (lack of oxygen) can be repaired. In particular, stem cells have been found to fix:
- White matter repair
- Grey matter repair
- Neuron regeneration
- Muscle tissue strengthening
- Immune system boosting
Essentially, stem cells can help fill in what’s missing in the body of a cerebral palsy patient. After receiving the treatment, patients have been known to demonstrate a marked increase in motor functions, speech control and cognition.
The growing prevalence of umbilical cord stem cell treatments has led to an increase in parents storing their child’s umbilical cord after birth. In Pennsylvania, obstetricians are mandated by law to inform future mothers that this option is available—if they do not, they could be held liable for medical malpractice if the cord ends up being needed.
These new treatments are bringing hope to families across the nation affected by cerebral palsy. However, it may be many years before a truly viable treatment for the condition is developed.
You Can Get Help Now
If your newborn suffered a serious brain injury, you can get help from our cerebral palsy attorney. When you contact our office, your situation will be reviewed by an attorney with experience and familiarity with the seriousness of birth injuries. Through legal action, you may be able to win compensation to pay for your child’s medical expenses and rehabilitation costs.
