Brachial plexus injuries are a type of complication that can result from the attempted birth of a baby that is too big for a mother’s pelvis. These injuries can permanently affect the mobility and sensation of a person’s arms, hands, and shoulders. While statistics reveal that these complications affect only 1.5 out of every 1,000 live births, the side effects of brachial plexus injuries can be severe and life-altering..
Medical training is designed to prepare medical professionals to resolve various complications that arise during the labor and delivery process. Despite their extensive training, however, medical professionals sometimes make mistakes. Because the results of brachial plexus injuries are serious, the resulting costs are often substantial.
Types of Brachial Plexus Injuries
The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves that connects a person’s upper limbs to the spinal cords. If these nerves are damaged, a person’s ability to lift and fully bend his or her arms can be damaged. The types of nerve trauma that can occur includes:
- Avulsion, in which the nerves tear away from the spinal cord attachment point
- Erb’s palsy, which refers to an injury to the upper brachial plexus that results in difficulties moving a person’s arms and shoulders
- Global palsy, which refers to an injury to both the upper and lower nerves that results in no difficult moving a person’s arms, hands, or shoulders
- Klumpke’s palsy, which refers to an injury to the lower brachial plexus nerves that result in loss of hand and wrist motion
- Neuroma, in which nerve injury results in scar tissue that interrupts signals from the nerves to the muscles
- Neuropaxia, in which the nerve stretches but does not tear
- Rupture, in which the nerves tear at a location other than the attachment point
Treatment of Brachial Plexus Injuries
Recovering from a brachial plexus injury can be possible if the injury is not severe. Other more serious injuries to the brachial plexus, however, do not leave a victim with many recovery options. Some of the non-surgical treatments that might be utilized include physical rehabilitation and the use of braces and splints. In situations where damage is irreversible, treatment options can include surgery and therapy.
Physician Error and Brachial Plexus Injuries
Trauma during the birthing process is just one of the most common causes of brachial plexus injuries. In some situations, the condition is hereditary. Unusual positioning of the fetus can also lead to brachial plexus injuries. Because children who end up trapped in a birth canal can experience deadly low levels of blood oxygen, medical professionals are sometimes required to utilize an action to extract the child which can lead to brachial plexus injuries. Cesarean section can also result in brachial plexus injury.
Let Me Fight for Your Family
If your child’s brachial plexus was caused by either medical malpractice or negligence by a medical professional, you have a right to compensation. Contact me today by calling 877.944.4373. From start to finish, I will remain dedicated to fighting for the results that your family deserves. And remember, I’ll Make Them Pay!®
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