Birth Injury Case EvaluationChildren suffering from birth injuries that are preventable are faced with astronomical medical expenses, difficult therapies and permanent disabilities. Holding medical providers accountable through medical malpractice claims may reduce financial burdens and provide justice.
To be successful in a claim lawyers must prove that the doctors or hospitals violated accepted standards of care during labor and birth. This is often accomplished through extensive review of medical records and expert witness testimony.
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral Palsy is also known as cerebral palsy, is a permanent handicap resulted from an injury to the central nervous system. It can happen during pregnancy (perinatal) or in early childhood. It affects a broad range of body movements and can be mild, moderate or severe in severity. The symptoms may vary according to age, but it is not a progressive condition.
It is not a condition that can be tested like many other. Nevertheless an extensive and thorough examination can aid medical professionals in determining whether or the child's problem is caused by cerebral palsy. This includes a full neurological and mobility assessment.
The examinations will focus on the child's balance and muscle tone, and also their abilities to move and their reflexes. Musculoskeletal examinations can reveal issues such as hip dislocations, scoliosis or contractures. Additionally an evaluation of speech and language can reveal a child's stage of intellectual development as well as speech production.
Cerebral Palsy is diagnosed using neuroimaging which allows doctors to view the brain in detail. It is a non-invasive method to determine the severity of brain damage. It does not allow doctors to predict the impact of the injury on children's symptoms.
In some instances, a diagnosis of cerebral palsy may not be made until the child is several years old, because symptoms can fluctuate during this time. However however, a classification of a condition on the basis of severity, topographical distribution and muscle tone is a good method to convey the severity of impairment in a child and influence the treatment.
The most effective treatment options for Cerebral Palsy include physical and occupational therapy. These therapies can help improve the mobility of a child and reduce their chance of developing joint deformities, like scoliosis. In addition, speech therapy and the use of adaptive equipment can help with daily activities and enable them to be more social with family members and others. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the child's condition There are also a variety of types of financial assistance available. This includes charities and foundations that can alleviate the burden of paying for a child's treatment and care.
Brachial Plexus Injury
A brachial plexus injury can be the result of an injury to the five nerves that originate from the spinal cord at the neck and conduct signals from the spinal cord to the arm, shoulder and hand. There is a brachial nerve on each side of the body. Some infants can recover without treatment, but the majority will benefit from occupational and physical therapy. A smaller percentage of infants may require surgery to get satisfactory results.
A doctor can diagnose a baby with brachial plexus injuries based on the medical history and physical examination. Doctors can order specific imaging tests like an MRI, CT scan or nerve conduction studies, however these tests are less reliable for babies. Doctors can also assess the strength and movement of the muscles of a child's arms by performing gentle exercises for range of motion, which helps them track the progress of recovery over time.
The signs and symptoms of a brachial the plexus injury can vary based on the extent of the injury and the nerves are affected. The signs include a weak arm and reduced muscle movement and decreased sensation in the hand. Often the symptoms affect one side of the body, but sometimes both sides are affected equally.
Neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) is the most frequent birth injury that affects the brachial nerve however it could also occur from other causes. Brachial plexus injuries are more frequent in babies who are large, who are born in a breech position, or those who are pulled during birth. This kind of injury is also common for athletes who engage in contact sports, such as football, and from blunt trauma.
NBPP is a condition that is diagnosed early on, usually within six weeks after birth. Most children will recover without intervention, however those who don't improve within a month need to be assessed by a team of experts. The teams typically consist of a pediatric orthopedic surgeon along with a physiatrist as well as physical therapy.
Erb's Palsy
The brachial plexus (pronounced brake-ee-al) is a collection of nerves that extend from the spinal cord to the shoulder, and through the arm until the hand. If this group of nerves are damaged during delivery, it could cause weakness or paralysis of the affected arm. Erb's palsy is the most commonly reported type. It is caused by significant stretching or tear of the upper brachial plexus nerves during the labor and
birth injury lawsuit process.
A physician can diagnose Erb palsy with a physical exam of the infant's hand. The doctor will look for a lack in movement in the affected hand as well as a shaky wrist and
filing a birth injury claim lack in Moro reflexes (the infant's involuntary response to a loss in head support). The health care professional could also request an imaging test or nerve test, such as an X-ray, an ultrasound, or an electromyogram, or a study of nerve conduction.
In many cases, Erb’s palsy is caused when an untrained doctor applies too much lateral tension to the infant during the forceps delivery. This type of traction can be minimized by having the shorter second stage of labor or by placing the mother on her back during part of the delivery. If the mother is delivered via C-section doctors can lower the risk of injury.
Other brachial plexus injury is possible in addition to Erb's palsy. Klumpke palsy is a more serious type of this condition that causes injury to the lower brachial plexus nerves. This type of injury is usually referred to as a "waiter's tip" posture due to the fact that the limb is hung by the side and is rotated medially, bent, pronated and extended at the wrist.
If your child is diagnosed with one of these conditions, it is important to consult an attorney for medical malpractice right away. Beth has more than 18 years of specialized experience in labor and delivery, and can help determine whether your child's doctor committed acts of
childbirth negligence lawyer that could have resulted in these preventable injuries.
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), also known as hypoxic brain damage, is a condition that occurs when a birth issue reduces the oxygen and blood supply to the newborn. HIE is an extremely serious brain condition that can lead to permanent brain damage. HIE's effects can be severe or mild and typically begin within a few weeks after
birth injury lawsuit timeline. HIE is among the many conditions that fall into the larger category of birth-related injuries known as neonatal encephalopathy (NE).
HIE can be caused by problems during labor and birth. These include excessive bleeding in the mother’s blood vessels and forceps delivery, long labor and bleeding that is excessive. It is possible that a baby might be suffering from an underlying condition like low birth weight that could lead to HIE.
To determine if a child has HIE doctors will analyze the infant's APGAR score and look for signs of a neurological impairment. A low APGAR score can signal a need for immediate medical intervention.