Philadelphia Birth Injury Lawyer Blog

A young boy from Wardsville, Missouri, recently returned from his long journey to China, where a stem cell transplant was performed to treat his cerebral palsy.

The 21-month-old boy was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after suffering a birth brain injury. His parents learned that the child had spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, a disorder that affects muscle tone. To curb the cerebral palsy symptoms, the boy's parents worked with doctors to determine the best type of cerebral palsy treatment before deciding upon the stem cell transplant in China. His father traveled with him in October to Chengyang People's Hospital in Qingdao, a city in northeastern China.

The operation used cord blood to transfer stem cells into the young boy. After returning, the parents are happy to report that the boy's head control is much better and he has improved movement in his hands. However, the doctors at the hospital in China said that the results of the procedure would most likely show after three to six months.

To learn more about stem cell transplants or other forms of cerebral palsy treatment, contact a physician today.

Nurses at the Children's Hospital of New Jersey in Newark recently treated an infant who was suffering from birth asphyxia by cooling her through hypothermia.

The baby, who was born on November 4, 2008, began suffering from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) which occurs when there is an insufficient supply of oxygen. This can result in damage to the brain and spinal cord.

The infant, who was experiencing birth asphyxia injury symptoms shortly after birth, was placed on a cooling mattress for 72 hours. Nurses regulated her temperature through a probe that was inserted into her esophagus. The probe was attached to a cooling machine, which allowed nurses to cool the baby's body to a lower than normal temperature.

The baby was the first birth asphyxia patient to receive hypothermic treatment. This treatment was used to help prevent future birth asphyxia injuries or disorders, such as cerebral palsy.

Following the warming procedure, the infant was found to have no abnormalities in her brain waves.

A rare form of spinal surgery may help children suffering from cerebral palsy. A dorsal rhizotomy is used to reduce spasticity, or the tightness in muscles, in the legs. Since cerebral palsy patients often experience spasticity, this procedure may help them increase their ability to walk.

A young girl from Peoria, IL, was recently given the opportunity to undergo this procedure. Her parents had noticed cerebral palsy symptoms shortly after birth. After receiving a cerebral palsy diagnosis, they were eager to learn of different forms of treatment.

During the procedure, specific nerve fibers that run through the spinal cord are cut. This is meant to help decrease the affects of muscle stiffness. The operation stops these specific nerves from being hyperactive. Surgeons will sort through the nerves to determine which are affecting the muscles. Once they have identified the nerve rootlets, they are able to cut those specific fibers.

A new study from the BMC Pediatrics journal examined 35 children who underwent this procedure and found that muscle tone in these patients had decreased and remained that way for years.