Brain Injuries To Children

Brain injuries in children and adolescent youth can occur from physical harm or illness and result from a variety of causes including labor and delivery. These injuries can last a lifetime and leave children mentally handicapped or physically disabled forever. Treatments can improve the quality of life but are expensive and not easy to obtain.

Brain injuries in children can also happen in adolescent youth through physical injury or illness. Physical head trauma can result in lifelong complications and undiagnosed illnesses, including fevers or strokes, can leave a child mentally handicapped if not appropriately treated.

If your child or a child you know suffered a brain injury as a result of someone else’s conduct, we can help you fight for relief. Don’t suffer alone. Call us today at 713-864-4000.

Brain injuries resulting from birth can include -

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is defined by the world-renowned Mayo Clinic as a group of disorders that impact muscle tone and posture as well as movement. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage that is caused by a developing brain. More often than not, trauma or other issues that occur before birth is the cause of cerebral palsy. Symptoms of cerebral palsy tend to occur during a child’s infancy or preschool years.

 

cerebral palsy infographic

 

These include floppiness or rigidity of limbs, abnormal posture, abnormal reflexes, involuntary movements, or unsteady walking. In some cases, a child with cerebral palsy will experience more than one of these symptoms. A person diagnosed with cerebral palsy can have lifetime physical and mental health issues. These include muscular issues, premature aging, arthritis, as well as heart and lung disease.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, is a brain injury that is caused by oxygen deprivation. This is also known as intrapartum asphyxia. It occurs when a newborn’s body suffers from a more extended period of depleted oxygen. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy occurs most often when a baby is both prematurely. Lungs of a baby born prematurely tend to be notably more vulnerable than those of a full-term child. It is not commonplace with babies carried to their full term.

 

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Infographic

 

If the condition lasts too long, brain tissue ends up destroyed. In this day and age, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy due to fetal or neonatal oxygen deprivation issues is a leading cause of death or severe impairment among infants. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy can result in permanent injuries or conditions that include epilepsy, development delay, neurodevelopmental delay, development delay, as well as cognitive impairment. All of these conditions have the ability to result in lifelong injury.

Infant Hematoma

Infant hematoma is defined as a buildup of blood in the membrane or layers of tissue that covers the part of the brain closest to a baby’s skull. There are a number of different causes of infant hematoma. These include trauma associated with assisted delivery devices like forceps or a vacuum. More difficult labor might result in infant hematoma as well. In addition, infant hematoma occurs in some cases in which a baby is particularly large at the time of birth.

Situations involving a breach of birth also enhances the possibility that infant hematoma might occur. In some cases, infant hematoma resolves on its own. In other situations, medical intervention is necessary. Medical intervention typically takes the form of surgery to resolve the condition. Because of the nature of an infant hematoma, permanent disabilities are a possibility. These can include disabilities involving motor skills as well as cognitive limitations.

Bleeding in the Brain

ct scan showing brain bleedBleeding in a child’s brain is also known as intracranial hemorrhage. This condition is one in which bleeding occurs in any part of the brain or in the area between the brain and the skull. If bleeding persists or is more extensive, it can cause damage to brain tissue. Bleeding of this nature can also result in brain swelling or brain compression. Bleeding in the brain of a child is the result of trauma in most instances.

There are also some diseases like sickle cell disease or Moyamoya disease can cause bleeding in the brain. All of the potential consequences of bleeding in the brain have the potential to cause permanent disability. This typically comes in the form of long-term neurological problems of different types. These can impact everything from cognitive processes to motor skills and abilities. The possibility exists that bleeding in the brain can result in a child ending up in a persistent vegetative state.

Intraventricular Hydrocephalus

Intraventricular hydrocephalus is classified as a condition that results in the accumulation of what is known as the cerebrospinal fluid that occurs within a brain. Intraventricular hydrocephalus can occur in people of different ages. These include older people as well as babies. When intraventricular hydrocephalus occurs with a baby, it can result in a rapid increase in the size of a child’s head. Intraventricular Hydrocephalus can also result in a child’s eye’s improperly pointing downward. A child may also experience seizures, vomiting, and sleep problems.

In some cases, intraventricular hydrocephalus is congenital or present in a child before birth. In other cases, intraventricular hydrocephalus is the result of infections, trauma, or brain tumors. There are some medical treatments available to address Intraventricular Hydrocephalus. If left untreated, or if treatment is unsuccessful, a child can end up with different types of permanent disabilities, including disfiguration and other issues as well.

Hypoxia of Lack of Oxygen to the Brain

Hypoxia is an issue in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of an adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level. If the situation persists for much time, the tissue will begin to die. Hypoxia can be classified as generalized or affecting the entire body. In the alternative, hypoxia can be classified as local or affecting a particular region of the body.

When it comes to infants, including babies during the birthing process, hypoxia or lack of oxygen to the brain can be caused by a number of reasons. These can include issues with the umbilical cord around a baby’s neck or breech birth. The key to preventing long term injury or even permanent disability is resolving the issue immediately and restoring an appropriate supply of oxygen to the brain. If this does not occur, the possibility exists for permanent injury, including profound disability.

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