South Carolina Birth Injury Lawyers

Charleston Birth Accident Attorneys

Brachial plexus injuries in infants

An infant born with a preventable birth injury is a tremendously challenging and emotionally exhausting experience for any family.

Some brachial plexus birth injuries resolve spontaneously, while others require multiple surgeries, leaving children with lifelong rehabilitation and permanent disabilities.

These serious and debilitating birthing injuries can occur as the result of negligence on the part of hospital staff and doctors during delivery.

What are symptoms of a brachial plexus birth injury?

The brachial plexus is a long bundle of nerves that runs from the spine, passing behind the collarbone through the shoulder and armpit area, where it divides and then rejoins as it travels down the arm and into the fingers (1).

Brachial plexus injuries can be especially detrimental to a child’s life, as symptoms include a limp or paralyzed arm; lack of muscle control in the arm, hand, or wrist; or a lack of feeling in the entire shoulder, arm, or hand (2). When this delicate nerve network is damaged, the life of your child can be forever altered.

Phrases you might have heard if your child suffered a brachial plexus birth injury are:

shoulder dystocia (when the baby gets stuck in the birth canal and requires special manipulation to be delivered)
Erb’s palsy (paralysis of the arm caused by nerve damage during the delivery process)
“flaccid arm” (when the baby has suffered severe nerve damage and is unable to move its arm)

If your child’s doctor used any of these terms to describe your child, and permanent injuries were the result, the attorneys at our firm would like to speak with you. We may be able to help.

How are serious brachial plexus injuries diagnosed?

Babies are diagnosed at birth. Severe brachial plexus injuries are obvious, as the baby cannot move the arm or the entire affected side of the body.

Doctors will often tell mothers to take the infant home and monitor him, sometimes for several months. Intense physical and occupational therapy is often recommended immediately. If at 12-18 months of age the child has not improved nor shown signs of movement, aggressive treatment becomes necessary.

In some cases, babies need to undergo surgical treatment on the brachial nerves, but this has to be done before the age of 3 before muscle atrophy develops. Surgical options after the age of 3 often are indicated for shoulder dislocations, contractures, and to improve some functional ability.

The child is then faced with a lifelong disability, only able to use one arm for work or play. Secondary conditions, such as scoliosis and chronic pain, often lead to further suffering.

What should I do if my child suffered a brachial plexus injury?

Our firm focuses on obstetrical and traumatic brachial plexus injury cases and wants to speak with you if your child suffers from severe, permanent nerve damage resulting in the loss of function to the shoulder, arm, or hand.

We want to do everything we possibly can to help you and your family get the help you need. That’s why we’re here. Fill out a free online consultation form or call us to learn what we can do for you and your loved ones.

Sources:

“Brachial plexus injury,” from the Mayo Clinic. Accessed via the Mayo Clinic Web site at www.mayoclinic.com.
“NINDS Brachial Plexus Injuries Information Page,” from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed via the National Institutes of Health Web site at www.ninds.nih.gov.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. For medical questions, you should always consult with your doctor.

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Has your child suffered a birth injury that you think could have been prevented? Contact a South Carolina birth injury lawyer at the Joye Law Firm today. Our office is located in Charleston, but we have successfully advocated for clients throughout the lowcountry area, including Columbia, Florence, Georgetown, Goose Creek, Hilton Head, Sumter, Moncks Corner, Myrtle Beach, Summerville, and Walterboro. Complete a FREE Online Consultation Form or call us today.

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