Children who suffer from unavoidable birth injuries are faced with astronomical medical bills, adversity in treatment and permanent disabilities. Medical malpractice claims can alleviate financial burdens and provide justice.
To win a claim lawyers must prove that the doctors or hospitals did not follow accepted standards of care during labor and birth. This is usually accomplished by an in-depth examination of medical records or expert witness testimony.
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral Palsy, also known as cerebral palsy, is a permanent impairment resulted from an injury to the central nervous system. This can occur during pregnancy (perinatal) or in the early years of childhood. It can affect a wide range of body movements and its severity can range from moderate to severe. The symptoms of the condition vary with age, but it's not progressive.
Like many other conditions it is not testable. A thorough and thorough evaluation will allow medical professionals to determine if the child's condition is due to cerebral palsy. This includes a full neurological and mobility assessment.
The examinations will focus on the child's muscle strength and balance and also their abilities to move and their reflexes. A musculoskeletal examination can identify hip dislocations, scoliosis and contractures. Additionally, a speech and language evaluation can help determine a child's level of intellectual development as well as speech sound production.
Neuroimaging is a kind of imaging that allows doctors to see the brain in detail is commonly used for diagnosing Cerebral Palsy. This is a noninvasive method to assess the extent of brain damage. It does not allow doctors determine the effects of the injury on a child’s symptoms.
In some instances it is possible that a diagnosis of cerebral palsy may not be made until the child is at least a year old, because symptoms can change during this period. However, the classification of a condition based on its severity as well as topographical distribution and tone is useful as a method of communicating the severity of impairment in a child and influence the treatment.
Physical and occupational therapy are among the most effective treatments for Cerebral Palsy. They can aid in improving a child's mobility and reduce the risk of 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 health, there are also several kinds of financial aid available. There are also charitable organizations and foundations that can ease the burden of paying for medical treatment and care.
Brachial Plexus Injury
A brachial-plexus injury happens when the five nerves which originate from the spine at the neck are damaged. These nerves transmit signals from the spine to the hand, shoulder and arm. There is a brachial nerve on each side of the body. Some infants with brachial plexus injuries will heal without treatment, but most will benefit from occupational and physical therapy. A smaller proportion of infants may require surgery to achieve good results.
A doctor is able to diagnose a baby's brachial plexus injuries based on the medical history and physical examination. A doctor can also order special imaging tests like an MRI or a CT scan or nerve conduction study however these tests are less reliable for babies. Doctors can test the strength and range of motion of a child's arms by performing gentle exercises to increase range of motion. This helps them monitor the progress over time.
The symptoms of a brachial strain can differ based on the severity of the injury as well as which nerves are affected. The signs can include weakness of the arm, muscle movement and decreased sensation (feeling) in the hand. Symptoms usually affect only one side of the body. However, occasionally both sides may be affected.
The most frequently cited reason is Neonatal Brachial plexus Palsy (NBPP) however, it can also be caused by other causes. Brachial plexus injuries are more frequent in babies who are large, who are in a breech birth position, or have to be pulled during the birth. This kind of injury may also occur in athletes who play contact sports like football and blunt trauma.
NBPP can be identified at an early age, typically within six to eight weeks of birth. The majority of children will heal without intervention, but those who don't improve in a month's time need to be assessed by a team of experts. These teams are typically made by an orthopedist for children, a physiatrist and a physical therapy.
Erb's Palsy
The brachial (brake-ee-al) the plexus is a nerve group that connect the spinal cord to the shoulder and then down the arm into the hand. If this group of nerves becomes damaged during delivery, it can cause weakness or paralysis in the affected arm. Erb's Palsy is the most common kind. It is caused by significant stretching or tear of the upper brachial nerves during the labor and local birth injury lawyer.
A doctor is able to diagnose Erb's paralysis by conducting a physical examination of the infant's arm. The doctor looks for a lack in movement in the affected hand, a limping wrist, and a deficiency in Moro reflexes (the infant's involuntary response to a loss of head support). The health professional may also order an imaging or nerve test like an X ray or an electromyogram, or ultrasound, or a study of nerve conduction.
In many cases, Erb's palsy is caused by an unexperienced doctor applying too much lateral traction to the baby during a forceps delivery. This kind of traction could be minimized by having the second stage of labor be shorter or by having the mother lay on her back for a part of the delivery. A doctor can also to reduce the risk of injury by delivering by C-section.
Several other kinds of brachial plexus injuries can occur in addition to Erb's palsy. Klumpke Palsy is the more severe form of this condition, that is characterized by damage to the lower brachial nerves. This type of injury is usually referred to as a "waiter's tip" posture because the limb hangs down by the side and is rotated medially bent, pronated and extended at the wrist.
It is important that you contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible when your child has been diagnosed with one of these conditions. Beth has more than 18 years of specialized expertise in labor and birth injury litigation and can assist you in determining whether your child's doctor has committed a mistake that could have caused these avoidable injuries.
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is also known as hypoxic ischemic brain damage, is a condition that occurs when a problem during birth decreases the oxygen and blood supply to the infant. HIE is a serious brain condition that could lead to permanent brain damage. HIE's effects can be severe or mild and typically begin within a few weeks of birth. HIE is a condition that is part of the larger category of birth-related injuries, referred to as neonatal encephalopathy.
An infant may develop HIE due to complications during labor and delivery, including excessive bleeding in the mother's blood vessels as well as a breech birth injury settlement amount, a prolonged labor and delivery or a forceps delivery. It's possible that a newborn might be suffering from an underlying condition such as low birth weight that can result in HIE.
To determine if there is HIE in infants, doctors take a look at the infant's APGAR scores and any signs of neurological impairment. A low APGAR could suggest the need for immediate medical care. Doctors can conduct blood tests to assess the buildup of acid in the umbilical chord which is an indication that a baby may have been suffering from an oxygen deficiency or a decreased flow of blood.
If a doctor suspects that the child is suffering from HIE is a common suspicion, they'll employ a treatment known as therapeutic hypothermia to treat the condition. In this procedure the infant is swaddled in a cooling blanket and given medicine to aid in getting sleep. During the cooling process doctors continuously monitor the heart rate, breathing state and body temperature, as well as brain activity.
After the baby is fully re-warmed a magnetic resonance image (MRI) will be taken. MRIs are the best way to identify HIE and its specific injury pattern. An MRI may show an approximate timeframe for the injury, which can be useful in determining if the child's symptoms are caused by HIE.
After a HIE diagnosis newborns will have to be closely monitored throughout their lives. They will see a neurologist and neonatologist, and they may receive physical, speech, and occupational therapy in order to cope with their symptoms. The aim is to help these kids realize their full potential and get them as healthy as possible.