Brachial Plexus Injury
Occasionally complications arise during delivery due to the size of the mother’s pelvis, or the position and size of the infant that may result in a brachial plexus injury. Proper monitoring during prenatal care alerts health care providers to possible dangers necessitating more than one delivery option. Ineffective or improper action on the part of the medical personnel involved may result in trauma to the infant.
Factors Contributing to Brachial Plexus Injury
One condition that contributes to complications is an abnormally large baby, in excess of 8 ¾ pounds, usually caused by diabetes in the mother. A mother with certain pelvic configurations can also have problems delivering vaginally. When these conditions are present, an infant‘s shoulder may become lodged after the head is delivered.
Health care providers are trained in many techniques to dislodge the baby and provide a successful delivery without trauma. Certain procedures and tools may be used to dislodge the fetus, but if they cannot be performed safety, a C-section must be chosen. Poor judgments or improper use of medical devices during the delivery process can traumatize and seriously injury the infant.
If medical personnel attempt to force an infant to deliver while inescapably lodged, delicate brachial plexus nerves in the arm, shoulder and neck of the baby become stretched and damaged. Subsequently, the child may suffer paralysis in any part or all of the arm, shoulder, neck and face. Some infants recover naturally. Others require extensive therapy and possibly surgical intervention.
Contact Us
Contact us for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys understand the emotionally devastating stress placed on families of injured infants. Ongoing medical expenses and services may be exhaustive.
Our lawyers work with trained medical personnel to evaluate cases and pinpoint wrongdoing. We may be able to help you secure a judgment to pay for the current and future medical costs associated with caring for an infant with a brachial plexus injury.
