Cerebral palsy is classified into different types based on the type of movement impairment and the parts of the body that are affected.

Four types of cerebral palsy based on movement problem

There are four types of cerebral palsy, which are classified based on impairment of movement.

• Spastic – Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy and occurs in 70 to 80 percent of all cerebral palsy cases. Children with spastic cerebral palsy often have limited and stiff movement due to the tightness of muscles. They will also have difficulty moving from one position to another or letting go of objects. In some cases, a period of poor muscle tone (hypotonia) will precede spastic cerebral palsy. 
• Athetoid - About 20 percent of patients with cerebral palsy have athetoid cerebral palsy. Athetoid cerebral palsy is characterized slow, writhing, involuntary movements in the face, arms, and sometimes legs due to the changing levels of muscle tone. These movements affect speaking (a condition called dysarthria), feeding, grasping, and other skills that require coordination. Children with athetoid cerebral palsy also have difficulties with posture while sitting or walking. Some may drool or grimace. 
• Ataxic – Ataxic cerebral palsy is characterized by problems with depth perception and balance. Approximately five to ten percent of children are diagnosed with this more rare type of cerebral palsy. It affects sense of balance and causes shakiness, which may increase the time it takes to complete certain tasks. In most cases, this type of cerebral palsy has an effect on the entire muscle system. 
• Mixed – It is possible for different types of cerebral palsy to be mixed due to injuries involving multiple parts of the brain. The most common type of mixed cerebral palsy would be athetoid/spastic, which is characterized by both the tight muscle tone and the involuntary movements. About 10 to 20 percent of cerebral palsy cases have a mixed type of cerebral palsy.

Types of cerebral palsy based on parts of the body affected

Cerebral palsy is divided into subcategories to indicate what part of the body is affected. In most cases, spastic cerebral palsy may only affect certain parts of the body, while the other sub-types affect tend to affect the entire muscle system:

• Diplegia – Affects either both arms or both legs (more commonly the latter)
• Hemiplegia – Affects limbs on only one side of the body (often due to a stroke)
• Quadriplegia – Affects all limbs and trunk
• Monoplegia – Affects only one limb (rare)
• Triplegia – Affects only three limbs (rare)

Does your child have cerebral palsy?

If you suspect your child acquired a type of cerebral palsy due to a doctor or medical staff’s negligence or wrongdoing, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your losses including pain and suffering, medical bills, and more. At Eisenberg, Rothweiler et al. we can evaluate your case free of charge to determine the best way to protect your legal rights. Contact us to speak with a Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney near you.