Birth Injury Case Evaluation

Children who suffer from unavoidable birth injuries are faced with astronomical medical bills, adversity in treatment and permanent disability. Medical malpractice claims can ease financial burdens, and provide justice.

To be successful, attorneys need to prove that hospitals or doctors did not follow accepted standards of care in labor and delivery. This is usually done by thorough examination of medical records and expert witness testimony.

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a permanent motor impairment caused by injuries to the embryonic central nervous system that happen in utero, at the time of birth (perinatal) or in early infancy. It affects a variety of body movements and can be mild, moderate or severe in its severity. The symptoms of the condition vary with age, but it's not progressive.

It is not a condition that can be tested, unlike many others. However it is important to conduct a thorough and thorough evaluation will help medical professionals determine whether or not a child's condition is due to cerebral palsy. This includes a thorough mobility and neurological assessment.

The tests will assess the child's muscles, posture, balance, reflexes, capacity to move, and other factors that affect a child's mobility. A musculoskeletal exam can detect hip dislocations, scoliosis, and contractures. A speech and language assessment will also show a child's intellectual development as well as their capacity to make speech sounds.

Neuroimaging, an imaging that permits doctors to view the brain in detail is commonly used for diagnosing Cerebral Palsy. This is a non-invasive method to assess the extent of brain injury. It does not allow doctors determine the effects of the injury on a child’s symptoms.

In some cases it is possible that a diagnosis of cerebral palsy is not able to be made until the child is a few years old, as symptoms can fluctuate throughout this time. The classification of a disorder by severity, topographic location, and muscle tone can be helpful in determining the degree of impairment and impacting the treatment.

The most effective treatment options for Cerebral Palsy include physical and occupational therapy. These therapies can improve a child’s mobility and reduce their chance of developing joint deformities like scoliosis. Speech therapy and adaptive equipment can assist the child with the daily tasks and allow them to better interact with family members and other. Based on the circumstances that surround the child's health, there are also several forms of financial assistance available. This includes charity groups and foundations that can ease the burden of paying for a child's treatment and care.

Brachial Plexus Injury

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. Each side of the body has a brachial plexus lawyer plexus. Some infants can recover without treatment, but the majority will benefit from physical therapy and occupational therapy. A smaller percentage of infants may require surgery to get satisfactory results.

A baby with an injury to the brachial plexus is diagnosed by their primary care doctor in light of their medical history and physical examination. A doctor can also order special imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan or nerve conduction study however these tests are not as reliable for babies. Doctors can also test the strength and movement of the muscles of a child's arms by performing mild range of motion exercises, which helps them track the development of their muscles over time.

The signs and symptoms of a brachial plexus injury vary depending on the extent of the injury as well as which nerves are affected. The signs include a weak arm, reduced muscle movement, and a decrease in sensation in the hand. The symptoms usually affect just one side of the body. However, sometimes both sides can be affected.

Neonatal brachial plexus syphilis (NBPP) is the most frequent cause of a birth injury that affects the brachial nerve however it could also result from other causes. Brachial plexus injuries are more frequent in large babies, those who are born in a breech position, or who have to be pulled during the birth trauma attorney. This type of injury can also occur for athletes who participate in contact sports like football, and also from blunt trauma.

NBPP can be identified at an early age, typically within six to eight weeks after reputable birth injury lawyers. The majority of children will heal without intervention, however those who do not improve in a month's time need to be assessed by a team of experts. These teams are usually made comprising an orthopedist for children along with a physiatrist and physical therapist.

Erb's Palsy

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

A doctor can identify Erb palsy by conducting physical examination of the baby's hand. The health care provider will look for a lack of movement in the affected arm, a sluggish wrist and a lack of Moro reflex (the infant's involuntary reaction to the lack of head support). The health care professional could also recommend an imaging test, like an ultrasound or X-ray, or a nerve test like an electromyogram or an examination of nerve conduction.

In many cases, Erb's paralysis is the result of an untrained clinician applying excessive lateral traction to the infant during a forceps delivery. This type of traction may be reduced by having the second stage of labor be shorter or by placing the mother on her back for part of the delivery. When delivering via C-section, a doctor can reduce the chance of injury.

Other kinds of brachial plexus injuries may occur in addition to Erb's palsy. Klumpke Palsy is the more severe form of this condition which causes damage to the lower brachial nerves. This kind of injury is often called a "waiter's tip" posture because the limb is hung by the side and is rotated medially, bent, pronated and extended at the wrist.

It is essential to contact a medical malpractice lawyer immediately when your child has been diagnosed with one of these ailments. Beth has over 18 years of experience in the birth and labor process and can help determine if your child's doctor has committed negligence that may have caused these preventable injuries.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic encephalopathy ischemic (HIE) occurs when an issue during birth hinders blood flow and oxygen to the infant. HIE is a serious illness that can lead to permanent, severe brain damage. HIE's effects may be mild or severe and usually start within a few weeks after birth. HIE is an illness that is part of a larger group of birth injury law services-related injuries, referred to as neonatal encephalopathy.

An infant can develop HIE due to complications during labor and delivery, including excessive bleeding in the mother's blood vessels, a breech birth, an extended labor and delivery, or a forceps delivery. A baby's low find birth injury lawyer weight may be the reason for HIE.

To diagnose HIE doctors will look at the infant's APGAR scores and look for signs of neurological impairment. A low APGAR score can signal the need for medical intervention. Doctors may also use tests on blood to determine acid build-up in the umbilical artery, which could indicate that a baby has suffered from an oxygen shortage or a decreased flow of blood to the brain.

If the child is believed to be suffering from HIE doctors often try to treat it using a procedure known as therapeutic hypothermia. In this method, the child is placed into a cooling blanket, and a medication is administered to aid in their sleep. During cooling, doctors will check the infant's heart rate and breathing, body temperature and brain activity.

Once a baby is fully re-warmed then a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is performed. MRIs are the best method to detect HIE and its particular injury pattern. An MRI can provide a time frame for the injury, which is useful in determining if a child's symptoms are caused by HIE.

If you are diagnosed with HIE infants should be closely monitored for the rest of their lives. They will see a neuroologist and a neonatologist, and may receive physical, speech, or occupational therapy to manage their symptoms. The aim is to make the children as healthy as possible and assist them in reaching their full potential.