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Birth Injury Case Evaluation Parents of children with preventable birth injuries face astronomical medical bills, daunting therapies and permanent disability. Medical malpractice claims can help to reduce financial burdens and also provide justice. To win a claim lawyers must prove that the doctors or hospitals violated accepted standards of care during labor and delivery. This is often accomplished by a thorough review of medical documents and expert witness testimony. Cerebral palsy Cerebral Palsy, also known as cerebral palsy, is a permanent disability caused by an injury to the central nervous system. This can occur during pregnancy (perinatal) or in the early years of childhood. It can affect a wide range of body movements and the severity of the condition can range from mild to severe. The condition's symptoms change with age, but it's not progressive. It is not a condition that can be tested, unlike many others. Nevertheless an extensive and thorough evaluation can help medical professionals determine whether or the child's problem is due to cerebral palsy. This includes a full assessment of mobility and neurologic function. The evaluations will look at the child's muscle tone and balance as well as their reactions and ability to move. A musculoskeletal examination can identify issues like hip dislocations, scoliosis or contractures. A speech and language test will also reveal the child's intellectual development as well as their capacity to create speech sounds. Neuroimaging, a type of imaging that permits doctors to examine the brain in detail is frequently used in diagnosing Cerebral Palsy. This is a noninvasive way to determine the severity of brain injury. However, it doesn't permit doctors to predict the effect of that injury on a child's symptoms. In certain instances the diagnosis of cerebral palsy may not be made until the child is several years old, because symptoms can fluctuate during this time. The classification of a condition in terms of severity, topographical location, and muscle tone could be useful in determining the degree of impairment and influencing treatment. Physical and occupational therapy are among the most effective treatment options for Cerebral Palsy. These therapies can help improve the mobility of a child and reduce their chance of developing joint deformities, like scoliosis. Speech therapy and adaptive equipment can also help the child with the daily tasks and enable him or her to better interact with family members and other. There are many options for financial aid available based on the circumstances surrounding the child's health. There are also charities and foundations that can alleviate the burden of paying for medical treatment and care. Brachial Plexus Injuries A brachial-plexus injury happens when the five nerves which originate from the neck spine to the spine are injured. These nerves transmit signals from the spine to the shoulder, hand and arm. Each side of the body has a brachial plexus. Some infants suffering from brachial plexus injuries recover without treatment, but the majority will benefit from occupational and physical therapy. A smaller group of babies might require surgical intervention to achieve good results. A doctor can identify a baby with brachial plexus injury based on the medical history and physical examination. A doctor can also order special imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan, or nerve conduction studies however, these tests are not as reliable for babies. Doctors can test the strength and range of motion of a infant's arms by doing gentle exercises to increase range of motion. This helps them track the improvement over time. The symptoms of a the plexus injury can vary based on the severity of the injury as well as which nerves are affected. The signs can include weakness of the arm, a lack of movement of the muscles, and a decrease in sensation (feeling) in the hand. Most often, the symptoms affect just one side of the body, but often both sides are affected equally. The most frequent cause is Neonatal Brachial Palsy (NBPP) however it can be caused by other causes. Babies who are obese, have a breech position or are forced to pull during delivery may be at a higher risk of suffering from a brachial Injury. This kind of injury is also common for athletes who engage in contact sports, such as football, and from blunt trauma. NBPP is an illness that can be diagnosed early, usually within six weeks after birth. The majority of children will recover without intervention, but those who are not improving by a month should be evaluated by a team of professionals who can manage the disorder. These teams are typically made by a pediatric orthopedist as well as a physiatrist, and a physical therapist. Erb's Palsy The brachial (brake-ee-al) the plexus is a nerve group that connect the spinal cord to the shoulder, and then down the arm and into the hand. This group of nerves can be damaged during delivery and cause weakness or paralysis in the affected arm. The most frequent type of this injury is Erb's palsy. It is caused by a significant stretching or tearing of the upper brachial nerves during labor and delivery. A doctor can diagnose Erb's Palsy by performing a physical examination of the infant's arm. The doctor looks for a lack of movement in the affected hand, a limping wrist, and a deficiency in Moro reflexes (the infant's involuntary response to a decrease in head support). The health professional might also order an imaging test, such as an ultrasound or X-ray, or a nerve test such as an electromyogram or an examination of nerve conduction. In many cases, Erb's palsy is caused when an untrained physician applies too much lateral tension to the infant during the forceps delivery. This type of traction can be minimized by having the second phase of labor be less invasive or by placing the mother on her back for a portion of the delivery. If the mother is delivered via C-section doctors can decrease the chance of injury. obstetric malpractice lawyer Accident Injury Lawyers Claims could occur in addition to Erb’s palsy. Klumpke Palsy is the more severe type of this condition, that is characterized by damage to the lower brachial nerves. This type of injury can be referred to as “waiter's tips” because the limb is suspended to the side, rotated medially, and pronated. It also is flexed, extended and flexed at the wrist. If your child is diagnosed with any of these conditions, it is important to speak with a medical malpractice attorney right away. Beth has more than 18 years of experience in the field of birth and labor and can help determine if the doctor who treated your child committed acts of negligence which may have caused these preventable injuries. Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) occurs when a birth issue restricts oxygen and blood flow to the infant. HIE is a serious condition that can lead to permanent severe brain damage. The effects of HIE can be mild or severe and typically begin within a few weeks after birth. HIE is one of many conditions that belong to the larger category of birth-related injuries known as neonatal encephalopathy (NE). An infant may develop HIE due to complications during the labor and birth process, such as excessive bleeding in the mother's blood vessels as well as a breech birth, prolonged labor and delivery or a forceps delivery. It is possible that a baby can have an underlying problem like low birth weight that could cause HIE. To diagnose HIE doctors will analyze the infant's APGAR score and look for signs of a neurological impairment. A low APGAR score may indicate the need for medical intervention. Doctors can use blood tests to measure the acid buildup in the umbilical chord, which indicates that a baby may have suffered from an oxygen shortage or decreased blood flow. If a doctor suspects that a child has HIE, they will often use a treatment called therapeutic hypothermia in order to treat the condition. In this procedure the child is swaddled in a cooling blanket and given medicine to aid in sleep. During cooling, doctors will check the infant's heart rate as well as breathing, body temperature and brain activity. Once a baby has been fully re-warmed, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan will be conducted. MRIs are the best method to identify HIE and its particular injury pattern. The results of an MRI may reveal an injury time-frame, which is helpful in determining whether the child's symptoms may be caused by HIE. Following a diagnosis of HIE, babies should be monitored closely throughout their lives. They'll see a pediatrician as well as a neurologist, and they may receive physical, speech and occupational therapy to help them cope with their symptoms. The goal is to help these kids realize their full potential and get them as healthy as possible.