Birth Defects Attorneys: Answering Questions about Surgical Scars

Our professionals would like to give you some information regarding the healing process that follows your child’s cleft lip or palate surgery. There are many questions a parent may have following a child’s scar, which is likely to happen from surgery. Our birth defects attorneys believe that being informed is that best thing you can do for your child and his or her health, so please enjoy the following post.

Common Scar Concerns

new jersey philadelphia birth defects attorneys answering questions surgical scarsMany parents are alarmed after their child’s surgery when new scars are red. During the healing process, the body re-routes blood vessles to the scar to bring an extra supply of blood, creating that red color. The red will progressively darken for about three months and will be raised off the skin and stiff to the touch. Eventually, the scar will fade, soften, and flatten. Ultimately, the scar should look like a soft, flat, white line.

Your child’s scar is permanent but as it becomes more mature, it will be less noticeable than when it was new. Healing is different from person to person, and many people have scars that are barely noticeable. However, using vitamin E to heal the scar is a largely futile effort, as there has been no conclusive evidence linking vitamin E to scar healing. Essentially, you need to be patient and wait for the scar to heal.

Birth Defects Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia

Our experienced and caring professionals are standing by to assist you with your legal needs. Many times people need the services of birth defects attorneys, yet they do not even realize it. For example, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate) has been downgraded to a Category D Pregnancy drug, meaning that there are negative effects associated with the use of Topamax during and before pregnancy. If you believe that Topamax was responsible for your child’s birth defect please contact the Mininno Law Office at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia for free consultations and case evaluations.

Birth Defects Like Cleft Lip/Palate Connected to Topamax Use

Topiramate, known by its prescription name of Topamax, hit the market as a prescription medication to treat epilepsy and certain types of seizures in September 2006. The drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2006 and has been a successful medication ranking near the top of the industry. Medical professionals were hopeful that Topamax would be extraordinarily beneficial to many people who suffered from seizures, but it is now apparent that it may lead to birth defects in babies when taken during pregnancy.

From Medical Advancement to Extreme Potential Harm

new jersey philadelphia Birth Defects attorneys tomapax connection cleft lip palateTopamax was prescribed to millions of people who were excited about this “medical break through”. Unbeknownst to those taking the medication, Topamax has been found to increase the occurrence of birth defects in expectant mothers who take it. Five years after its release, in March 2011, the FDA forced Topamax to issue a warning about the correlation between their drug and birth defects. Five years of availability on the market means that countless expectant mothers have taken this pill, hoping to no longer suffer from epilepsy and seizures. The FDA’s website has confirmed that taking Topamax will increase fetal risk of birth defects, such as cleft lip or palate. The severity of this side effect must be taken into consideration when prescribing medication to expecting mothers. If you take Topamax and suspect that you could be pregnant, you should seek a medical professional to receive an expert opinion on the matter. There are alternative medications available that have not shown side effects of birth defects which are far safer to take during pregnancy.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was born with a birth defect and you believe it may be attributed to your use of Topamax during pregnancy, it is likely that you have some questions. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Cleft Lip: Speech and Hearing Problems are Possible

Topamax is a highly effective consumer medication used for the treatment of migraines and seizures. Although it is necessary for people to seek relief, it is crucial that all potential side effects are known before taking certain pharmaceutical drugs. Topamax has recently been linked to certain birth defects when taken by women during their pregnancy. Cleft lip and cleft palate are potential birth defects associated with Topamax use, and can be very harmful to newborn babies.

Children may Need Medical Treatment for Speech and Hearing Issues

new jersey philadelphia birth injury attorneys Cleft Lip Speech Hearing ProblemsCleft lips and palates have the potential to harmfully affect the ability of children to hear. A tympanostomy tube is usually inserted into a young child’s eardrum in order to aerate the middle ear. This tube often allows for children to have improved hearing and provides other significant benefits. Babies who suffer from cleft palate may have a number of speech problems. Some speech problems develop directly as a result of anatomical differences due to the birth defect. An example of an anatomical difference that could cause trouble is velopharyngeal inadequacy, which is the inability of the soft palate to shut the opening from the throat to the nasal cavity. Velopharyngeal inadequacy makes it difficult for children to make many speech sounds as the soft palate is integral to this function. These types of errors are somewhat common and can be corrected after palate repair.

In other cases, children with cleft lip and cleft palate may have speech errors which result from an attempt to over compensate for the inability to produce the target phoneme. Known as compensatory articulations, these sounds are usually non-existent in normal English phonology. Palate repair is usually not the answer to solving these sorts of issues and it may worsen the speech, making it even harder to understand. Speech pathology can be very helpful in resolving some problems with speech, and parents should seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Cleft Lip Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was born with a birth defect, such as cleft lip or cleft palate, it is possible that you have some questions regarding your use of Topamax during pregnancy. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.