Tag Archives: birth defect

Botox Injections Being Used to Treat Cerebral Palsy

Most of us have probably heard of Botox being used to reduce facial wrinkles. However, Botox can also be used to treat spastic quadriplegia in cerebral palsy patients. Children affected by spastic quadriplegia suffer from severe muscle stiffness in both arms and both legs. Most children with this condition cannot walk. Their speech may also be affected, and seizures are common as well. Treatment for spastic quadriplegia often involves physical therapy, surgery or both. Physical therapy is used to help relax a patient’s stiff muscles, and most children also require multiple surgeries to lengthen their muscles. In recent years, doctors have started using Botox to minimize the need for surgery and improve the quality of life for children with spastic quadriplegia. Dr. Deidre Ryan, an orthopedic surgeon at Loyola University in Chicago, has been using Botox in cerebral palsy patients for several years. According to Dr. Ryan, as quoted by…
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Recent Australian Study Suggests Hot Temperatures May Increase Risk of Stillbirth

A recently published Australian study indicates that higher temperatures may increase a woman’s risk of premature delivery or stillbirth. Premature babies have an elevated risk of birth defects, including: Mental retardation Learning disabilities Behavioral problems Respiratory complications Vision and hearing loss Cerebral palsy If avoidable birth trauma caused your child’s birth defect, an experienced cerebral palsy attorney can help you seek compensation for your child’s injuries. What Researchers Found Led by Associate Professor Adrian Barnett of QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, the Australian study looked at still and premature births in Brisbane over a four-year period and recorded weekly temperature, humidity and air pollution levels for each pregnancy. Of the 101,870 births recorded during that period, 653 were stillbirths, roughly .6 percent. Science Daily quotes Dr. Barnett as saying: “We found that increases in temperature increased the risk of stillbirth, and this was particularly true in the earlier…
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Preventing Birth Injuries

A medical mistake made during labor or delivery can cause a baby to suffer a birth injury, which can lead to brain damage, cerebral palsy, physical impairments, or other disorders or birth defects. When negligence is to blame for a baby’s birth injury, the healthcare providers involved with the birth and/or the hospital facility at which the birth took place may be liable under medical malpractice law. In such cases, an experienced cerebral palsy attorney can help the parents seek compensation for their child’s birth trauma. No parents want their baby to experience harm. Fortunately, parents can take steps throughout the pregnancy to minimize their baby’s risk of birth injury. Early Planning As soon as parents receive the happy news they are expecting, they can start working towards a safe delivery. Steps to take early on in your pregnancy include: Checking out your obstetrician’s qualifications Seeking prenatal care early and…
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