Birth Injury Case Evaluation

Children who suffer from birth injury lawsuit process injuries that could be prevented face staggering medical bills, adversity in treatment and permanent disability. The process of holding medical providers accountable through medical malpractice claims may reduce the financial burdens and ensure justice.

In order to win a case attorneys must show that the hospitals or doctors have violated the accepted standards of care during labor and birth. This is usually accomplished by an exhaustive examination of medical records or expert witness testimony.

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a permanent motor disability caused by injuries to the immature central nervous system that happen in utero, during delivery (perinatal) or early infancy. It affects a broad range of body movements. It can be mild, moderate, or severe in intensity. The symptoms can differ based on age, however the condition isn't progressive.

Unlike many other conditions, it is not a testable condition. A thorough and comprehensive assessment will allow medical professionals to determine if the child's condition stems from 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 reflexes and ability to move. Musculoskeletal exams can reveal hip dislocations, scoliosis and contractures. A speech and language test will also show the child's intellectual development as well as their capacity to make speech sounds.

Cerebral Palsy is diagnosed using neuroimaging which allows doctors to see the brain in great detail. It is a noninvasive method 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.

Children may not be diagnosed with cerebral palsy until they are several years old because symptoms can vary. Despite this however, a classification of a condition on the basis of severity as well as topographical distribution and tone is a good way to communicate a child's degree of impairment and influence treatment.

The most effective treatments legal guidance for birth injury Cerebral Palsy include physical and occupational therapy. These therapies can increase the mobility of children and decrease the risk of developing joint deformities, like scoliosis. Speech therapy and adaptive equipment can assist the child with the daily tasks and help them to interact more effectively with family and others. Based on the circumstances that surround the child's health there are a variety of types of financial assistance available. This includes charity groups and foundations that can ease the burden of paying for treatment and care.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

A brachial-plexus injury is the result of an injury to the five nerves that originate from the spinal cord at the neck and transmit signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand. There is a brachial plexus on each side of the body. Some infants with brachial plexus injuries will recover without treatment, but most will benefit from occupational and physical therapy. A smaller group of babies might require surgery to achieve good results.

A baby who has an injury to the brachial plexus can be diagnosed by their primary care doctor based on their medical history and physical examination. A doctor may also order special imaging tests, like an MRI or CT scan, or nerve conduction studies however these tests are not as accurate in infants. Doctors can also test the strength and movement of the muscles of children's arms by performing mild range of motion exercises, which helps them track the development of their muscles over time.

The symptoms of a the plexus injury can vary based on the severity of the injury and which nerves are affected. The symptoms can include weakness in the arm, poor movement of the muscles, and a decrease in sensation (feeling) in the hand. The symptoms usually affect just one side of the body. However, sometimes both sides may be affected.

The most frequent cause is Neonatal Brachial Palsy (NBPP) however, it can be caused by other causes. Babies who are overweight or have a breech position or are forced to pull during delivery may be at higher risk of suffering from a brachial injury. This kind of injury may also happen to athletes who engage in contact sports like football and blunt trauma.

NBPP is a condition that is diagnosed early, usually within six weeks after birth. Most children recover without treatment, but those who don't improve within a month need to be evaluated by a team of experts. The team typically consists of an orthopedic surgeon for children along with a physiatrist as well as physical therapy.

Erb's Palsy

The brachial (brake-ee-al) plexus is a group of nerves that run from the spinal cord to the shoulder and then down the arm and into the hand. This nerve group can be damaged during delivery and cause weakness or paralysis of the affected arm. Erb's palsy is the most commonly reported type. It is caused by a significant stretching or tear of the upper brachial plexus nerves in the labor and birth.

A physician can diagnose Erb palsy with an examination of the baby's hand. The health care provider looks for a lack in movement in the affected hand, a limping wrist, and a decrease in Moro reflexes (the infant's involuntary response to a loss in head support). The health care professional may also recommend an imaging test, such as an ultrasound or X-ray, or a nerve test, like an electromyogram or a nerve conduction test.

In many cases, Erb's Palsy is the result of an untrained clinician applying excessive lateral traction to the infant during a forceps delivery. This type of traction can be decreased by using a shorter second stage of labor or by placing the mother on her back during a portion of the delivery. By delivering via C-section, a doctor can reduce the risk of injury.

Other brachial plexus injury is possible in addition to Erb’s palsy. Klumpke palsy is a more serious form of this condition, which causes injuries to the nerves of the lower brachial plexus. This kind of injury could be referred to as "waiter's tips" because the limb is suspended by the side, rotated medially and pronated. It is also flexed, extended and bent at the wrist.

If your child is diagnosed with one of these conditions, it is important to speak with an attorney for medical obstetric malpractice lawyer immediately. Beth has more than 18 years of specialist experience in labor and delivery and can assist you in determining whether your child's medical provider has committed a mistake that may have led to these injuries that could have been prevented.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is also called hypoxic ischemic brain damage, occurs when a birth defect decreases the oxygen and blood supply to the infant. HIE is an extremely serious brain condition that could lead to permanent brain damage. The effects of HIE can vary from mild to extreme, and they usually begin within a few weeks after birth injury law experts. HIE is one of many conditions that belong to a larger category of birth-related injuries, known as neonatal encephalopathy (NE).

HIE can be caused due to complications during birth and labor. These can include excessive bleeding in the mother's blood vessels as well as forceps delivery, prolonged labor and bleeding excessively. It is possible that a baby may have an underlying issue such as low birth weight, which could lead to HIE.

To identify HIE in infants, doctors look at the infant's APGAR score and any indications of neurological impairment. A low APGAR could be a sign that you need immediate medical attention. Doctors can also use tests on blood to determine acid build-up in the umbilical cord, which is a sign that a baby has suffered from an oxygen deficit or decreased blood flow to the brain.

If a physician suspects that the child is suffering from HIE and suspects that they have it, they usually use a treatment called therapeutic hypothermia to combat the condition. In this method, the child is placed in a blanket that cools them, and medicine is given to help them sleep. During the cooling process, doctors be able to monitor the infant's heartbeat and body temperature, breathing and brain activity.

After the baby has been fully re-warmed a magnetic resonance image (MRI) will be taken. MRIs are the most effective way to determine HIE and its particular injury pattern. An MRI can provide an approximate timeframe for the injury, which is helpful in determining if a child's symptoms are related to HIE.

After a diagnosis of HIE infants should be closely monitored legal representation for birth injuries the rest of their lives. They'll visit a neonatologist and neurologist, and could receive physical, speech and occupational therapy to help them deal with their symptoms. The aim is to help these children achieve their full potential and make as healthy as they can.