In the early years of their life, children are typically vulnerable to the greatest amount of damage. Birth injuries are a common fear for every expectant parent and with good reason. While the birthing process is a celebratory time, it is also a time of fear and caution. It is highly medical, specific and dangerous; if something goes wrong, it is not only painful, but can cause damage that will forever alter the future of your child and the way that they will live their lives.

One of the most commonly sustained birth injuries is that of cerebral palsy. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that around 10,000 babies every year will develop this condition in the United States. This has resulted in about 800,000 living with this condition to date and this is not a cheap or simple condition to live with. In fact, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strikes (NINDS), the lifetime care of a cerebral palsy patient is over $900,000 €" not including hospital visits, residential care and other expenses that are paid out-of-pocket.

So what is cerebral palsy? Essentially, this is a neurological condition that affects the muscle coordination. This can lead to children suffering from symptoms that include stiff muscles, spasticity in their reflexes, dragging their feet when walking, a crouched gait and either stiff or €floppy€ muscle tone. These symptoms, however, do not stem from an issue in the muscles, tissues or nerves; instead, these body movement issues come from damage to specific areas of the brain. In many cases, this is a condition that children are born with; however, it can develop within the first few years of life. Some of the most common causes include brain infections, brain damage that was incurred during the birthing process or a traumatic accident, such as a car accident or a fall.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this condition. There are, however, methods of working with the patient to improve their prognosis in life. Every patient will be different and will require a different amount of assistance in their life. Some will be able to live a fairly normal life with some physical therapy and will only differ slightly from the average person. Others, however, will require around-the-clock care and will even be unable to walk.

Currently, there are medications, surgeries and therapy options available to patients in the attempt to help them live a normal life. Research is also taking great strides in treatment options €" looking to not only help treat this condition once it has occurred, but also working to try and proactively prevent it from ever occurring. For this reason, research centers around the traumatic events that occur to newborns, as well as genetic defects that could leave some children vulnerable to this type of condition.

In some cases, cerebral palsy could be unavoidable and could just be the result of several different uncontrollable factors. This, however, is not always the case and should not be treated as such. In some cases, it is the negligence of medical professionals that result in a child experiencing something of this nature. If you have a child that has suffered from cerebral palsy because of medical malpractice, negligence or the reckless behavior of a doctor, nurse or other medical professional, you should not suffer in silence. Consult with a local law firm and learn more about what can be done to protect your child and your best interests.