Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid inside the skull that puts pressure on the brain. The result may be brain damage of varying severity. Infants who suffer brain injuries from hydrocephalus may have developmental disabilities such as visual impairment, poor coordination, cognitive and emotional difficulties, loss of bladder control and slow growth.

If a birth injury caused your child to develop hydrocephalus, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages. The birth injury lawyers at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers in Syracuse can evaluate your case and determine whether malpractice contributed to your child's injury. We understand that you have many questions and concerns, and we will work hard to find answers for you.

A swollen head, swollen veins and rapid growth of the head are some of the visible symptoms of hydrocephalus. Determining the causes of this condition can be accomplished with MRI scans, ultrasound or CT scans. Our law firm consults with medical experts from outside of the local area to provide us with objective medical opinions whether medical malpractice caused a birth injury to a child.

Risk factors for hydrocephalus in infants include:

• Birth trauma
• Fetal cerebral hemorrhage
• Uterine infection during pregnancy
• Premature birth

Hydrocephalus occurs when an excessive quantity of cerebrospinal fluid gathers around the baby's brain and spinal cord. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke have warned that, excessive build up of such fluid causes abnormal widening of ventricles, which are the spaces in the brain. At the time of birth, hydrocephalus can develop because of trauma and/or injury. This should be considered a medical emergency by medical providers.

If the doctors fail to prevent Hydrocephalus or leave it untreated in the initial stages, it can cause complications for your child including:

• Unusually large head size or rapid increase in head circumference
• Downward deviation of the eyes
• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental delays
• Seizures

Inserting a shunt into the brain is the most common form of treatment for hydrocephalus. A shunt system requires medical care for the life of the patient and can have serious complications. Infections, pain, headaches and vision problems are just a few of the potential complications of a shunt.

Children with hydrocephalus may have a relatively normal life span. Because the condition and treatment both require continual medical care, our office seeks to obtain financial compensation so that the child will have access to the best medical care possible to monitor and treat the condition.

To thoroughly investigate whether medical negligence caused injury to your child, our office will obtain both the medical records of the mother and child. Once we have obtained the relevant medical records, we will perform an initial review ourselves then consult with a medical expert from outside of the local area. Using board certified medical experts from outside of the local area will ensure that the case review is completely fair and objective.

If your child suffered an injury due to hydrocephalus, call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us online. Consultations are always free and you will never be responsible for legal fees unless we are able to recover compensation for your child. We also offer evening and weekend appointments as well as home visits.