A brachial plexus injury refers to damage to an infant’s neck or shoulder during birth that injures the nerves in this region. This birth injury can cause weakness and paralysis in the shoulders, hands and arms, as well as muscle development issues. Medical providers have the ability to prevent brachial plexus injuries in most situations. Therefore, this diagnosis could point to medical malpractice.
What Are Brachial Plexus Injuries?
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that runs from the cervical spine (in the neck) through the shoulder and down into the arm and hand. This nerve bundle controls motor function and sensation in the shoulder, arm and hand.
A brachial plexus injury typically describes the stretching of these nerves (neuropraxia) during a difficult birth. The nerves could also suffer more severe damage, such as tears, ruptures and avulsion (when the nerve root is torn away from the spinal cord).
How Do Brachial Plexus Injuries Affect Newborns?
The brachial plexus is essential for movement and feeling in the chest, shoulder, arm, forearm and hand. Nerve damage in this area can affect functionality, including fine motor skills in the infant’s hand and the ability to lift or grip objects.
Most cases of Erb’s Palsy or Klumpke’s Palsy (two types of brachial plexus nerve injuries) heal on their own in a few months’ time. More serious cases, however, may need physical therapy and even surgery for the child to recover. Severe brachial plexus damage can cause permanent harm, including lifelong weakness in the arm and muscle development problems.
What Can Cause a Brachial Plexus Injury During Childbirth?
Brachial plexus injuries can arise during labor and delivery if a physician pulls on an infant’s arm, head or neck with too much force, stretching or tearing the brachial plexus nerves. This may occur as a reaction to shoulder dystocia, where the baby’s head gets stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone.
When Are Brachial Plexus Injuries a Sign of Medical Malpractice?
Medical providers are trained in how to handle difficult births and medical emergencies in a manner that protects both mother and child from serious injury as much as possible. They should be prepared to handle complications such as shoulder dystocia using the correct specialized maneuvers.
A brachial plexus injury may be the result of medical malpractice if a physician fails to carry out the proper maneuvers according to obstetric guidelines to remove the baby smoothly from the birth canal. This includes the misuse of assistive equipment such as forceps and vacuums.
This birth injury may also constitute medical negligence if the emergency most likely could have been prevented by detecting high-risk factors ahead of time, such as large infant size and maternal diabetes. Identifying risk factors can allow the medical team to adequately prepare for possible complications and minimize the likelihood of a brachial plexus nerve injury.
Exercising Your Rights as a Parent in Minnesota After a Brachial Plexus Birth Injury
In Minnesota, you have the right as a parent to take legal action against the health care provider or medical facility for medical malpractice in connection with your child’s brachial plexus birth injury. Bring your case and your child’s medical records to a free consultation with a birth injury attorney in Minneapolis to find out if you have grounds for a legal claim.
If your situation contains signs of medical malpractice, a lawyer can build your case and handle the legal legwork for you and your family. Your attorney will fight for maximum compensation on your child’s behalf using aggressive legal strategies. Working with a birth injury lawyer can bring a negligent medical provider to justice and help protect your child’s financial future.For more information about brachial plexus injury claims in Minnesota, contact Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC to schedule a cost-free case evaluation with a knowledgeable attorney.