Cerebral palsy is classified mainly in two groups:
(A) Classification by Number of Limbs Involved
• Monoplegia- only one limb is affected, usually an arm.
• Diplegia- all four limbs are involved. Both legs are more severely affected than the arms.
• Triplegia-three limbs are involved usually both arms and a leg.
• Quadriplegia- all four limbs are involved.
(B) Classification by movement disorder
Spastic CP
Normal muscles work in pairs: when one group contracts, the other group relax to allow free movement in the desired direction. Spastic muscles become active together and block effective movement.
Spasticity may be mild and affect only a few movements, or severe and affect the whole body. The amount of spasticity usually changes over time. Therapy, surgery, drugs and adaptive equipment may help to control spasticity. Damage to the brain’s cerebral cortex is generally the cause of spastic cerebral palsy.
The muscles of a person with spastic cerebral palsy have increased muscle tone, meaning their muscles are stiff and permanently contracted. Trying to move with continually contracted muscles makes motion short and jerky.
Athetoid or Dyskinetic CP
Athetosis leads to difficulty in controlling and co-coordinating movement. People with athetoid cerebral palsy have many involuntary writhing movements and are constantly in motion. People with Athetoid cerebral palsy usually have movements that look slow and are sometimes circular in nature. They often have speech difficulties. Athetoid cerebral palsy results from damage to the basal ganglia in the midbrain.
Ataxic CP
Ataxic CP is the least common form of cerebral palsy. People with ataxic CP have a disturbed sense of balance and depth perception. They usually have poor muscle tone, a staggering walk and unsteady hands. Ataxia results from damage to the cerebellum, the brain’s major centre for balance and co-ordination.
Mixed CP
Many cerebral palsy sufferers have a combination of the different types. The most common is a mix of Spastic and Athetoid. The least common mixture is Athetoid and Ataxic. A combination of all the three types is although rare.
When you initially enlist the help of a cerebral palsy lawyer, he or she will quickly be able to tell you whether you have a practical case against the authorities to file a cerebral palsy lawsuit and claim compensation for the injuries sustained by your child.
Using a cerebral palsy attorney with experience can really improve your chances of getting compensation for these injuries.