Athetoid dystonia as a birth injury

Athetoid dystonia is an incurable condition affecting the body's muscles. It can cause difficulties and abnormalities in the posture, tone and motion of the body's various muscular structures. Usually attributable to cerebral palsy and occasionally attributable complications resulting from low blood sugar, asphyxia or jaundice at birth, it is, while rare, sometimes a legitimate reason for people claiming birth injury compensation.

The term athetoid is taken from the word athetosis, which is used in medical circles to describe the phenomenon of spontaneous spasms seizing the body, while the word dystonia refers to disorder of muscle tone.

Together, these two definitions present a short though accurate picture of athetoid dystonia. As one would expect, it can be a very traumatic condition to live with and greatly inhibit the social and psychological development of a child.

Most of its symptoms are believed to be caused by damage to an area of the brain known as the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia is responsible for motor and movements and damage to it can cause the sufferer to experience involuntary spasms, particularly in the face, tongue and hands. The obvious social and practical difficulties presented by the condition's symptoms mean that if a person has developed the condition as a result of obstetric negligence, he or she may view claiming birth injury compensation as an imperative.

Other causes
As mentioned earlier, the major cause of athetoid dystonia is cerebral palsy. Other causes include brain damage resulting from meningitis or encephalitis infection.

Instances of athetoid dystonia have been recorded in older patients who have developed it as a side-effect of medications used to treat Parkinson's disease.

Treatment
Although, as yet, there is no cure or method of reversing damage to the basal ganglia, there are treatments available for athetoid dystonia which can reduce the acuteness and incidence of its symptoms.

There are currently hopes that developments in stereotactic surgery might lead to breakthroughs in rehabilitating damage to the basal ganglia.

Medical negligence lawyers
Few things place as many demands on a family's courage, emotional wellbeing and financial security as a birth injury.

While it can never truly compensate for the traumas of birth injury compensation, can at the very least put affected families in the strongest possible position to be able to overcome its disadvantages.

YouClaim's team of medical negligence lawyers are committed to working sensitively and thoroughly in order to secure their clients the best possible outcome.

We charge no legal costs and fees, protect you against those incurred by the opposing side and guarantee all our clients 100% of the compensation awarded to them we never take a cut.

If you would like to find out more about your entitlement to birth injury compensation, you can fill out your details on an online claim form or have a discussion with a legal advisor using e-chat.

Alternatively, if you wish to speak to someone now, call us on 0800 10 757 95, so that we can connect you with the lawyer best suited to your case.