A brachial plexus birth injury can cause a life time of suffering for the victim and family. Erbs palsy is a condition that is caused by a brachial plexus injury, which often results in paralysis of the hand, arm, or face. The paralysis can either be a partial paralysis or a total paralysis. The brachial plexus is a group of nerves extending through the neck, armpit region, and arm.
Erb's palsy is often caused by dystocia, which is a very difficult or abnormal childbirth. If for example the child's head is too big to fit easily through the birth canal, a doctor may cause damage to the brachial plexus nerves by twisting and pulling on the baby's head and shoulders. These nerves can even be avulsed or actually pulled out of the sockets to the spinal cord if too much pressure is used.
A baby with brachial plexus can be identified, as the arm is immediately noticed to be limp and weak, and if it doesn't recover, the baby is left with a permanent injury, in which he or she can never move their hand or arm. In some cases, the nerves may repair themselves, but in many cases they require extensive physical therapy or surgery to help repair the damage.
Medical malpractice or medical negligence may be the cause of the brachial plexus injury which caused erbs palsy. Examples where this may occur include:
- Failure to recognize the baby is too large to pass through the birth canal
- Failure to perform a cesarean section when necessary
- Failure to turn and position the baby properly for vaginal delivery
- Failing to estimate the correct delivery date and underestimating the size of the baby
- Negligence in maneuvering the impacted shoulder during childbirth
When Dr. Bruce Fagel presents brachial plexus birth injury cases to juries, he explains the anatomy of a baby, the circumstances the doctors were faced with, and what actions the doctors took to cause the injuries to the infants. If your baby suffered a brachial plexus injury, erbs palsy, or any other type of birth injury from medical negligence, contact Dr. Bruce G. Fagel & Associates right away for a free consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for a life time of medical care for your child.