Is cerebral palsy (CP) curable?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a type of motor disorder characterized by abnormal or involuntary movements. It is often caused by brain damage during or around the time of birth, due to factors such as oxygen deprivation, and is considered a birth injury (1).

Many parents want to know if their child’s cerebral palsy can be cured. There is no cure for cerebral palsy, although research into stem cell therapy suggests that it may be an important treatment avenue in the future because it has the potential to regenerate damaged brain cells (2).

Although there is currently no cure, there are plenty of treatments and therapies that can reduce negative symptoms and improve function in people with cerebral palsy. These include the following:

• Medications: People with cerebral palsy may benefit from a variety of different medications. These include muscle relaxants (such as botox and baclofen), anticonvulsant medications, anti-inflammatories, and more.
• Medical equipment: Some people with cerebral palsy require equipment such as breathing aids, feeding tubes, and vagus nerve stimulators (to control co-occurring seizure disorders). There are also forms of medical equipment that deliver important drugs, such as the intrathecal baclofen pump, which continuously injects a low dose of this medication.
• Surgeries: Surgeries that may improve symptoms of cerebral palsy and associated conditions include neurosurgeries like selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), orthopedic surgeries like hip muscle releases, feeding tube insertion, and more.
• Therapies: People with cerebral palsy often participate in physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), speech therapy, and a variety of complementary and alternative therapies.

In addition to the aforementioned treatment and therapy options, people with cerebral palsy often benefit from forms of assistive/adaptive technology, service animals, educational programs, and other resources.

Cerebral palsy and birth injury lawsuits

Cerebral palsy is often the result of a birth injury, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (a form of brain damaged caused by a lack of oxygenated blood flow). If your child sustained a preventable birth injury, and now has cerebral palsy, they may be eligible for compensation through a birth injury lawsuit. This compensation can help cover the costs of lifelong treatment, therapy, and other important resources.

If you are interested in pursuing a birth injury case, it is important to go with a medical malpractice firm with extensive experience in this area of law.

ABC Law Centers (Reiter & Walsh, P.C.) focuses exclusively on birth injury cases, and our attorneys have the expertise needed to win. Please reach out today to learn more. Clients pay nothing throughout the entire legal process unless we win.

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Sources

1. “Cerebral Palsy Attorneys | Birth Injury Lawyers.” Michigan Birth Injury & HIE Attorneys, www.abclawcenters.com/practice-areas/types-of-birth-injuries/cerebral-palsy/.
2. “Current State of Stem Cell Treatments for Cerebral Palsy: A Guide for Patients, Families, and Service Providers.” CanChild, www.canchild.ca/en/resources/276-current-state-of-stem-cell-treatments-for-cerebral-palsy-a-guide-for-patients-families-and-service-providers.

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