When a baby’s neck and shoulder area is stretched too far or its nerves are compressed during birth, it can cause a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that is responsible for sending signals from the spinal cord to the arm, hand, and shoulder.
When the brachial plexus is injured, newborns may experience weakness or loss of motion in one arm. In some cases, the injury can cause paralysis in the arm. There are two types of brachial plexus injuries.
When the upper nerves are injured, it’s known as Erb’s palsy. The injuries are typically noticed in the shoulder and arm.
When the lower nerves are injured, it’s known as Klumpke’s palsy. In these cases, the hand, wrist, and forearms may be injured.
No matter which type of brachial plexus injury a newborn suffers, it’s important that parents are aware of the signs and symptoms of brachial plexus injury.
Symptoms
- A limp or weak arm. Typically, on one side only.
- Little or no movement in the elbow, hand, shoulder, or wrist.
- Weak grip or hand weakness.
- Loss of feeling, but this might not always be obvious in newborns.
What are the causes of brachial plexus Injuries?
Brachial plexus injuries aren’t always preventable, and the signs of possible injury aren’t always there before delivery. Some babies just have difficult deliveries that result in an injury. That can be especially true for babies whose shoulder gets stuck after the head is delivered — a condition known as shoulder dystocia.
Babies that are large or have a breech birth are more at risk of suffering a brachial plexus injury. If the mother has diabetes, it can also contribute to injuries.
While some injuries are not the fault of healthcare staff, how they handle the delivery can undoubtedly cause a brachial plexus injury or make the unavoidable injury worse.
For instance, if the delivering doctor pulls too hard on the baby’s head or neck during delivery, rather than using safer maneuvers to move the baby, it can stretch the head and neck area. While some deliveries require staff to use a vacuum, forceps, or other instruments, in many instances, those tools can cause injuries, including those associated with brachial plexus injury.
While the doctor may not have caused shoulder dystocia, poor management of the situation can turn a minor injury into a serious one. As with any high-stakes critical event, proper patient monitoring and preparation for potential complications are crucial for staff. Failing to recognize when there’s a high risk of injury to the newborn before or during delivery is inexcusable.
Serious injuries that can be caused by brachial plexus injury
While many brachial plexus injuries improve soon after birth, many are left with complications that require therapy or surgery to correct. In some cases, those methods don’t fix the injury, and the baby is left dealing with long-term limits to their strength and range of motion. Those injuries can affect the victim’s daily life for the rest of their life.
In severe cases, victims suffer from chronic pain or permanent disability.
Parents of newborns who suffer Erb’s palsy or Klumpke’s palsy are left with several unanswered questions. Questions like: How did this happen? Could this have been prevented? Does my baby need surgery? Are they going to be OK?
If your baby suffered a brachial plexus injury and you are asking yourself any of those questions, don’t wait to contact the professionals at Weisser Law. Our experts will review your medical records down to the minute to see how your child was injured and who should be held accountable.
With over 50 years of combined experience in Florida courtrooms, Weisser Law is uniquely positioned to put pressure on insurance companies to offer fair, realistic settlements. We have the strength and knowledge necessary to take down the big companies when they’ve wronged you or your family. Contact Weisser Law today, where compassion guides our work, but results define us.