Birth Injury Case Evaluation

Parents of children with unavoidable birth injuries are faced with astronomical medical bills, daunting therapies and permanent disabilities. The process of holding medical providers accountable through medical malpractice claims may help ease the financial burdens and ensure justice.

To win a claim attorneys must show that the hospital or doctor did not follow accepted standards of care during labor and birth. This is usually accomplished by an in-depth review of medical records or expert witness testimony.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is also called cerebral palsy is a permanent handicap caused by an injury to the central nervous system. It can happen during pregnancy (perinatal), or in early childhood. It can affect a broad range of body movements and its severity can range from moderate to severe. The symptoms of the condition change with age, but it is not progressive.

In contrast to other conditions, it isn't a condition that can be tested. A thorough and comprehensive assessment will help medical professionals determine if the child's condition is caused by cerebral palsy. This includes a thorough neurological and mobility evaluation.

The tests will examine the child's muscle tone and balance, and also their reactions and ability to move. A musculoskeletal examination can identify hip dislocations, scoliosis and contractures. A speech and language evaluation will also show the child's intellectual development as well as their ability to produce speech sounds.

Cerebral Palsy is diagnosed using neuroimaging, which allows doctors to look at the brain in great detail. It is a noninvasive method to assess the extent of brain injury. However, it does not allow doctors to predict the effect of that injury on the child's symptoms.

Children may not be diagnosed with cerebral palsy until they are several years old as the symptoms can fluctuate. The classification of a disorder in terms of severity, topographical location, and muscle tone can be useful in determining the severity of impairment and the impact it has on the treatment.

The most effective treatments for Cerebral Palsy include physical and occupational therapy. These can help improve the mobility of children and decrease the risk of joint problems like scoliosis. Additionally, speech therapy and the use of adaptive equipment can aid with the child's daily living activities and allow him or her to connect more effectively with family members and others. There are many options for financial aid available based on the specific circumstances that lead to the child's condition. There are also charities and foundations that can help ease the burden of paying for medical treatment and care.

Brachial Plexus Injury

A brachial plexus injury is caused by an injury lawyer near me to the five nerves that branch off from the spinal cord at the neck and conduct signals from the spinal cord to the arm, shoulder and hand. Each side of the body has a brachial plexus. Some infants recover without treatment but the majority will benefit from occupational and physical therapy. A smaller proportion of infants may require surgical intervention to achieve good results.

A baby with a brachial plexus injury is diagnosed by their primary care doctor in light of their medical history and physical examination. A doctor can also order special imaging tests, like an MRI or a CT scan or nerve conduction study, although these tests are not as reliable for babies. Doctors can also test the strength and movement of the muscles of children's arms by doing gentle range of motion exercises that help them track the progress of recovery over time.

The signs and symptoms of a brachial plexus injury vary depending on the severity of the injury and the nerves are affected. The signs include a weak arm and reduced muscle movement and decreased sensation in the hand. Symptoms usually affect only one side of the body. However, in some cases, both sides may be affected.

Neonatal brachial-plexus palsy (NBPP) is the most common cause of a birth injury that affects the brachial nerve however it could also result from other causes. Babies who are large and have a breech posture or are forced to pull during delivery may be at a higher risk of a brachial plexus Injury. This type of injury can also occur for athletes who participate in contact sports, such as football, and also from blunt trauma.

NBPP is an illness that can be identified early, typically within six weeks of the birth. The majority of children will recover with no intervention, but those that do not show improvement by the end of the month should be examined by a team that can manage the condition. The teams typically consist of a pediatric orthopedic surgeon along with a physiatrist as well as a physical therapy.

Erb's Palsy

The brachial plexus (pronounced brake-ee-al) is a set of nerves running from the spinal cord to the shoulder, and then through the arm until the hand. This group of nerves can be injured during delivery, causing weakness or paralysis in the affected arm. The most frequent type of this injury lawyer near me is Erb's palsy. It is caused by significant stretching or tearing of upper brachial nerves during the labor and birth.

A doctor is able to diagnose Erb's paralysis by performing a physical examination of the infant's arm. The health care provider looks for a lack of movement in the affected hand as well as a shaky wrist and a lack in Moro reflexes (the infant's involuntary reaction to a decrease in head support). The health care professional may also recommend an imaging test, like an X-ray or ultrasound or a nerve test such as an electromyogram or a nerve conduction study.

In many cases, Erb’s palsy occurs when an inexperienced physician applies too much lateral pressure to the infant during the forceps delivery. This type of traction may be lessened by having the second phase of labor be less time-consuming or having the mother lay on her back for part of the delivery. A doctor can also help reduce the risk of injury by having the baby delivered via C-section.

Other brachial plexus injury is possible in addition to Erb’s palsy. Klumpke palsy is a more severe form of this condition that causes injury to the nerves of the lower brachial plexus. This type of injury is commonly called a "waiter's tip" posture because the limb hangs to the side and is rotated medially bent, pronated and extended at the wrist.

If your child is diagnosed with any of these ailments it is essential to consult a medical malpractice attorney right away. Beth has more than 18 years of experience in specialized expertise in labor and birth and can assist in determining whether your child's doctor was negligent and could have caused these injuries that could have been prevented.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a condition that occurs when an issue during birth hinders blood flow and oxygen to the infant. HIE is a serious disorder that can lead to permanent severe brain damage. The effects of HIE can range from mild to severe and they usually begin within a few days after birth. HIE is a condition that belongs to the larger category of birth-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 or a breech birth prolonged labor and delivery or a forceps delivery. It is possible that a baby may have an underlying issue like low birth weight that could lead to HIE.

To determine if a child has HIE, doctors will evaluate the infant's APGAR score and look for signs of a neurological impairment. A low APGAR could suggest the need for immediate medical treatment. Doctors may also use tests on blood to determine acid build-up in the umbilical cord, which can indicate that a baby suffers from an oxygen deficit or decreased blood flow to the brain.

If a child is believed to be suffering from HIE, doctors will often attempt to treat it with the treatment known as therapeutic hypothermia. During this treatment the infant is placed under a cooling blanket, and medication is administered to help them sleep. During the cooling process, doctors monitor the infant's heart rate as well as body temperature, breathing and brain activity.

Once a baby is fully re-warmed, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan will be conducted. MRIs are the best injury lawyer near me method to detect HIE and its specific injury lawsuit pattern. The results of an MRI can show an injury time frame, which is helpful in determining whether the child's symptoms may be due to HIE.

After a diagnosis of HIE babies must be monitored closely throughout their lives. They will see a neurologist and a neonatologist, and may receive speech, physical, and occupational therapy to treat their symptoms. The aim is to help these kids reach their full potential, and to make as healthy as they can.