Cerebral palsy is one of the more common birth injuries, with the severity ranging from mild to severe. In the worst cases, individuals with cerebral palsy are unable to care for themselves, suffering both physical and cognitive delays. Symptoms may include difficulty controlling muscles, spastic limbs, and an inability to feed and clothe oneself. A recent study determined that infant head circumference can be a clue to whether a newborn may suffer a brain injury at birth, leading to the development of cerebral palsy.
In that study, authors found that babies with large heads are at an increased risk. Specifically, babies with a large head circumference — greater than 90th percentile — had a 10 times higher risk for white matter damage.
Based on this study, authors concluded that determining the size of a baby's head in utero during the the late stages of a mother's pregnancy would be an important step in assessing risk and taking steps to help prevent against brain damage at birth.
Prenatal testing and risk assessment is crucial. The failure to properly assess potentially risky births and prevent harm from occurring may constitute medical negligence. For more information or if you believe you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence, please contact the experienced Los Angeles birth injury lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.
