Serious
Injuries.
Experience.
Results.
Hydrocephalus occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up abnormally within the brain, enlarging the ventricles and sometimes increasing pressure on surrounding brain tissue. In infants and children, the condition can affect neurological development and may lead to seizures, movement limitations, vision concerns, developmental delays, or other lasting medical needs.
Whether hydrocephalus begins before birth or develops afterward from bleeding, infection, or complications of prematurity, early recognition matters. When abnormal prenatal findings go unaddressed, symptoms after birth are not investigated, or diagnosis and treatment are delayed, rising pressure can damage a child’s developing brain.
Use this form to get the fastest review by an attorney and the fastest response from our office.
Cerebrospinal fluid, commonly called CSF, normally circulates through spaces within and around the brain and spinal cord. It cushions the central nervous system and is continuously produced and absorbed by the body.
Hydrocephalus develops when the normal movement or absorption of CSF is disrupted. As fluid accumulates, the ventricles within the brain may enlarge.
Hydrocephalus may be present at birth or develop later.
Potential causes in infants can include:
Possible signs in a baby may include:
These signs call for prompt medical evaluation, and brain imaging can confirm the diagnosis.
A CDC-supported analysis of U.S. birth-defects surveillance programs estimated congenital hydrocephalus at approximately 6.73 cases per 10,000 live births in the populations studied.
Hydrocephalus care becomes a medical malpractice issue when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care and that failure causes or contributes to additional harm.
Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may examine whether providers:
For a child born with hydrocephalus, the legal focus is often on what happened next: whether a delay in diagnosis or treatment allowed pressure to build and cause neurological injury that timely care would have prevented.
Some cases of hydrocephalus or ventricular enlargement may be identified during pregnancy through prenatal imaging.
Ultrasound may show enlarged brain ventricles or another structural finding that calls for additional monitoring or evaluation.
Potentially relevant prenatal records may include:
An abnormal ultrasound finding should prompt action, such as repeat imaging, fetal MRI, or referral to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. A malpractice review examines whether providers took those steps.
For example, the records may be reviewed to determine whether a concerning ventricular measurement was documented, whether repeat imaging was recommended, and whether additional evaluation occurred.
The records establish what information providers had and how promptly they acted on it.
Not every case is apparent prenatally.
After birth, healthcare providers may monitor a baby’s head circumference, development, feeding, alertness, muscle tone, and neurological condition.
A pattern of increasing head circumference can be significant, particularly when accompanied by other concerning findings.
Possible symptoms may include:
Any of these symptoms, especially alongside abnormal head growth, should lead to further evaluation.
A potential legal issue may arise when a pattern of concerning findings develops over several visits but additional evaluation does not occur.
For example, pediatric records may show progressively abnormal head growth together with neurological symptoms. A review may consider whether the overall clinical picture reasonably called for imaging or referral at an earlier point.
Yes. Continued accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid places pressure on brain tissue, and the longer that pressure goes untreated, the greater the risk of additional neurological damage.
A delayed-diagnosis investigation may consider:
Causation is essential. Serial head measurements, imaging dates, and neurological findings before and after the delay can show how prolonged pressure worsened the child’s injury and how earlier treatment would have limited it.
A potential hydrocephalus claim may involve prenatal care, pediatric diagnosis, neurological treatment, or management after treatment.
Depending on the facts, questions may include whether providers:
The evidence generally must show both that the care fell below the accepted standard and that this failure caused or contributed to additional injury.
The effects of hydrocephalus vary considerably.
Some children respond well to treatment and experience relatively limited impairment. Others may have significant neurological or developmental consequences.
Potential long-term concerns can include:
Depending on the child’s condition, ongoing care may include:
Needs may change as a child grows.
For families dealing with permanent neurological impairment, the practical questions can extend far beyond the original diagnosis. They may need to understand future treatment, therapy, educational services, caregiving, mobility needs, and the child’s level of independence.
Snyder & Wenner focuses on serious cases involving permanent harm and substantial future medical needs, helping families find both answers and a practical plan for the future.
Arizona law places time limits on medical malpractice actions.
Under A.R.S. § 12-542, medical malpractice actions are generally subject to a two-year limitations period after the cause of action accrues.
Claims involving children can require additional legal analysis, and claims belonging to parents may be legally distinct from those belonging to the child.
Families should therefore obtain guidance based on their individual circumstances rather than assume one general filing period applies to every claim.
Earlier investigation can also help preserve prenatal imaging, pediatric records, neurological documentation, and other evidence needed to establish when concerning findings first appeared.
If your child developed hydrocephalus and you have questions about prenatal, newborn, or pediatric care provided in Scottsdale, Snyder & Wenner can review the medical evidence and review the medical timeline, evaluate the evidence, and help families understand their legal options.
Hydrocephalus occurs when cerebrospinal fluid accumulates abnormally within the brain, enlarging the ventricles and potentially increasing pressure on surrounding brain tissue.
Yes. Some children have congenital hydrocephalus associated with structural or developmental conditions. Others develop hydrocephalus after birth because of bleeding, infection, premature birth, or another neurological condition.
Possible signs include rapid head growth, an unusually large head, a bulging soft spot, vomiting, excessive sleepiness, irritability, feeding difficulties, seizures, unusual eye positioning, or developmental concerns.
When ventricular enlargement appears on a prenatal scan, repeat imaging and specialist referral allow the medical team to plan for the baby’s care at delivery.
A hydrocephalus case involves medical negligence when providers fail to meet the accepted standard of care and that failure causes or contributes to additional harm. Examples can include delaying a neurosurgical referral after abnormal imaging, failing to track head circumference at well-baby visits, or missing the signs of a shunt infection.
Yes. The longer cerebrospinal fluid builds up without treatment, the more pressure it puts on the developing brain. Pediatric records and imaging can show how much time passed and how the delay affected the child.
Relevant records may include prenatal imaging, newborn examinations, head-circumference measurements, pediatric visits, neurological findings, brain imaging, hospital records, neurosurgical documentation, treatment records, and developmental assessments.
Treatment often involves reducing excess cerebrospinal fluid and pressure. A shunt may be used to redirect fluid, while another procedure may be appropriate depending on the child’s condition and the cause of the hydrocephalus.
Depending on the severity of the condition, care may include neurological or neurosurgical monitoring, imaging, medication, physical or occupational therapy, speech therapy, developmental services, educational support, assistive equipment, or personal care.
Our attorneys review when abnormal findings first appeared, how the condition progressed, and how healthcare providers responded. We examine the available evidence, standard of care, causation, and long-term consequences to determine whether further legal action may be appropriate.
