Birth Injury Case Evaluation

Parents of children who suffer from preventable birth injuries face astronomical medical expenses, challenging treatments and permanent disabilities. Making medical professionals accountable through medical malpractice lawsuits could reduce the financial burden and bring justice.

To win the claim attorneys must prove that hospitals or doctors did not adhere to accepted standards of treatment when it came to labor and delivery. This is typically accomplished through an in-depth review of medical records or expert witness testimony.

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral Palsy is also known as cerebral palsy, is a permanent disability resulted from an injury to the central nervous system. It can occur during pregnancy (perinatal), or in early childhood. It can affect a broad range of body movements and its severity can range from mild to severe. The symptoms of the condition differ with age, however it is not progressive.

Like many other conditions it is not a testable condition. A thorough and comprehensive assessment will help medical professionals determine if a child's illness is due to cerebral palsy. This includes a full neurological and mobility assessment.

The evaluations will examine the child's muscle tone, posture and balance, reflexes, capacity to move and other factors that affect a child's mobility. Musculoskeletal exams can reveal hip dislocations, scoliosis and contractures. In addition, a speech and language evaluation can indicate a child's level of development in terms of intelligence and speech sound production.

Neuroimaging, a type of imaging that permits doctors to view the brain in detail is frequently used in diagnosing Cerebral Palsy. This is a noninvasive method to determine the severity of brain damage. However, it doesn't allow doctors to predict the effect of that injury on the child's symptoms.

Some children may not be diagnosed with cerebral palsy until they are several years old, as symptoms can fluctuate. Despite this, the classification of a condition based on its severity, topographical distribution and muscle tone is a good way to communicate the severity of the impairment to a child and influence 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. Speech therapy and adaptive equipment can also aid the child in their daily activities and enable him or her to be more social with their family and friends. There are several financial aid options available depending on the circumstances surrounding a child's condition. This includes charity groups and foundations that can ease the burden of paying for treatment and care.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

A brachial plexus injury is the result of an injury to the five nerves that branch off from the spinal cord at the neck and conduct signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand. There is a brachial nerve on both sides of the body. Some infants with brachial plexus injuries recover without treatment, but most will benefit from physical and occupational therapy. A smaller percentage of infants may require surgical intervention to achieve satisfactory results.

A doctor can diagnose a baby with brachial plexus injuries on the basis of the medical history and physical examination. A doctor can order special imaging tests like an MRI, CT scan or nerve conduction studies, however these tests aren't as appropriate for babies. Doctors can assess the strength and range of motion of a child's arms through gentle exercises for range of motion. This allows them to track the progress over time.

The symptoms of brachial-plexus injuries can vary based on the severity of the injury and the specific nerves affected. Symptoms can include weakness of the arm, a lack of movement of the muscles, and a decrease in sensation (feeling) in the hand. The symptoms typically affect only one side of the body. However, occasionally both sides can be affected.

Neonatal brachial-plexus palsy (NBPP) is the most frequent cause of a birth injury that affects the brachial plexus, but it can also be caused by other causes. Brachial plexus injuries are more prevalent in babies who are large, who are born in a breech position, or who have to be pulled during the birth. This type of injury could be seen in athletes who engage in contact sports, such as football and blunt trauma.

NBPP is a condition that can be identified early, typically within six weeks of birth. Most children will recover without treatment, but those who do not improve within a month need to be evaluated by a specialized team. These teams are typically made by a pediatric orthopedist, a physiatrist and a physical therapy.

Erb's Palsy

The brachial (brake-ee-al) plexus is a nerve group that run from the spinal cord to the shoulder and then down the arm into the hand. If this group of nerves is injured during delivery, it may cause weakness or paralysis of the affected arm. Erb's palsy is the most commonly reported kind. It is caused by a significant stretching or tearing of upper brachial plexus nerves in labor and delivery.

A physician can diagnose Erb's palsy by conducting an examination of the infant's arm. The doctor looks for a lack of movement in the affected hand, a limping wrist, and a decrease in Moro reflexes (the infant's involuntary reaction to a loss of head support). The health professional might also request an imaging test, like an X-ray or ultrasound, or a nerve test, such as an electromyogram, or an examination of nerve conduction.

In many cases, Erb's paralysis is a result of an unexperienced doctor applying too much lateral traction the infant during a forceps delivery. This type of traction could be reduced by using a shorter second stage of labor or having the mother lie on her back during part of the delivery. A doctor can help reduce the chance of this kind of injury by giving Board-certified birth injury lawyer via C-section.

Other types of brachial plexus injuries can occur in addition to Erb's palsy. Klumpke palsy is a more serious form of this condition, which causes injuries to the brachial plexus nerves in the lower region. This type of injury may be described as "waiter's tips" because the limb is held to the side, rotated medially and pronated. It also is flexed, extended and bent at the wrist.

If your child is diagnosed with one of these conditions, it is important to talk with a medical malpractice attorney immediately. Beth has more than 18 years of experience in the field of birth and labor, and she can help determine if your child's doctor committed acts of negligence which could have led to these avoidable injuries.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic encephalopathy ischemic (HIE) is a condition that occurs when a birth defect hinders blood flow and oxygen to the infant. HIE is a serious illness that can cause permanent severe brain damage. The effects of HIE can be mild or severe and typically begin within a few weeks of birth injury claim. HIE is an illness that is part of a larger group of qualified birth injury lawyer-related injuries known as neonatal encephalopathy.

HIE can be caused by problems during birth and labor. These can include excessive bleeding in the mother’s blood vessels and forceps delivery, long labor and bleeding excessively. It's possible that a newborn might be suffering from an underlying condition such as a low birth injury lawsuit process weight that could lead to HIE.

To determine if there is HIE in infants, doctors will examine the infant's APGAR score and any signs of neurological impairment. A low APGAR score could indicate the need for medical intervention. Doctors can use blood tests to assess the buildup of acid in the umbilical chord which is an indication that a baby might have been suffering from an oxygen deficiency or a decrease in blood flow.

If a doctor suspects that a child has HIE is a common suspicion, they'll employ a treatment known as therapeutic hypothermia to treat the condition. In this method, the child is placed in an ice-cold blanket and medicine is given to help them sleep. During cooling, doctors will be able to monitor the infant's heartbeat as well as body temperature, breathing and brain activity.

Once a baby is fully warmed up then the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is performed. MRIs are best for identifying HIE and the pattern of its injury. An MRI could provide an approximate timeframe for the injury, which can be useful in determining if a child's symptoms are due to HIE.

Following a diagnosis of HIE infants should be monitored closely throughout their lives. They will visit a neurologist and neonatologist, and they might be treated with physical, speech, and occupational therapy to manage their symptoms. The goal is to assist these children realize their full potential, and to make them as healthy as they can.