Brachial Plexus & Erb’s Palsy
Brachial Plexus & Erb’s Palsy
When a doctor or physician assists a mother in delivering her child, absolute care and caution must be exercised at every moment. Using too much force, pulling the child in an awkward angle, and much more can all be a single mistake that has lifelong repercussions in the form of a birth injury. In particular, an excess of force or contorting the child can cause arm and shoulder injuries known as brachial plexus and Erb’s palsy.
If your child was born with an arm-related injury, it is likely due to some form of medical malpractice during the birthing process, or perhaps immediately before it. Isaacson Law and our Las Vegas birth injury attorneys will help you file a claim against the negligent hospital or medical staff that harmed your newborn.
Contact our firm today to begin.
Birth Injuries That Afflict a Child’s Arm
It is not uncommon for a doctor to help a mother and an infant during the delivery process by pulling gently on the child’s arm. This practice is only acceptable if the doctor knows exactly what he or she is doing. There is no margin for error and any form of carelessness must not be tolerated.
Pulling on a newborn’s arm incorrectly can cause:
- Brachial plexus: The upper region of the child’s arm, near the shoulder, is stretched or torn. The birth injury will likely cause permanent muscle weakness and chronic numbness, but it can also cause total paralysis of that group of muscles.
- Erb’s palsy: The nerves in the upper arm are damaged by the pulling and twisting, resulting in a complete loss of feeling in the arm. The nerve damage may spread over time, ultimately causing weakness or paralysis.
- Klumpke’s palsy: Nerves within the lower arm of the newborn are damaged at birth. The crippled nerves partially or totally inhibit manual dexterity and can make moving the wrist or fingers painful. Klumpke’s palsy will also often form the child’s hand into a claw-like shape for their entire life.
It is critical that you work with an attorney who is well-versed in medical injuries and a confident litigator. Inside and outside of the courtroom, our legal team has the experience, resources, and knowledge to advocate for you.
