What Types of Surgical Interventions May Benefit a Child with Cerebral Palsy?

 Posted on April 29, 2021 in Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a life-changing medical condition that can affect everything from walking and eating to cognition and learning abilities. If you have a child with cerebral palsy, you know just how far-reaching the illness's effects can be. Fortunately, doctors and researchers are learning more and more about cerebral palsy every day. Many medical interventions, including several surgical procedures, may improve the quality of cerebral palsy sufferers' lives.

Orthopedic Surgery for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy can lead to rigid muscles, uncontrollable muscle movement, and difficulty with everyday tasks like using a pencil or showering. Children with cerebral palsy may struggle to gain the independence they crave because of their lack of muscle control. Orthopedic surgery has proven to be one method of improving functionality. As a parent, the thought of your child going under the knife may understandably be unnerving. Most parents try various other treatment options such as physical therapy and muscle injections before trying surgery. Unfortunately, these treatments do not always result in the relief doctors hope for.

Some orthopedic surgeries that may alleviate cerebral palsy symptoms include:

• Spine surgery – Many people living with cerebral palsy experience scoliosis, a condition affecting the curvature of the spine. Scoliosis can lead to significant nerve pain and difficulty walking. Surgically fusing vertebrae with metal plates and screws may provide relief.
• Tendon surgery – Cerebral palsy sufferers often have tight tendons and muscles that affect their mobility. Surgery to lengthen tight tendons and realign the bones of the legs, hips, and feet may provide relief. Tendon-lengthening surgery may require general anesthesia, or it may be completed under local anesthesia.
• Osteotomy – Children with cerebral palsy often suffer from hip dislocation and other bone misalignment. This surgical procedure reshapes and repositions bones that have become misaligned.

Gastroenterology Surgery for Improve Feeding and Digestion

Many children with cerebral palsy experience difficulty chewing and swallowing food. Sometimes the condition does not allow food to travel down the throat properly and may even cause a child to aspirate on the food. A gastrostomy tube or nasogastric tube may be placed to allow food to be directly introduced into the child's stomach. Submandibular duct relocation may address excessive drooling, which can lead to infections, skin issues, and tooth decay.

Contact a Chicago, Illinois Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Cerebral palsy may necessitate significant medical intervention, including expensive surgical procedures. When a child's cerebral palsy is caused by a medical mistake during birth, the at-fault party may be liable for the costs of medical treatment and other damages. To learn more, contact a Cook County birth injury lawyer at Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd.. Call us at 312-462-4200 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5439309/