Birth Injury Case Evaluation
Parents of children with birth injuries that could be prevented face staggering medical bills, adversity in treatment and permanent disabilities. Making medical providers accountable through medical malpractice claims could aid in easing the financial burden and bring justice.
To win the claim, attorneys need to prove that hospitals or doctors did not adhere to accepted standards of treatment when it came to labor and delivery. This is typically accomplished through a thorough review of medical records, or expert witness testimony.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is also known as cerebral palsy is a permanent handicap caused by a trauma to the central nervous system. It can happen during pregnancy (perinatal) or during early childhood. It can affect a broad range of body movements, and its intensity can be moderate to severe. Its symptoms can vary by age, but the condition isn't progressive.
It is not a testable condition like many other. A thorough and thorough evaluation will help medical professionals determine if a child's illness is due to cerebral palsy. This includes a thorough assessment of mobility and neurological issues.
The tests will examine the child's muscle tone and balance, as well as their reactions and ability to move. A musculoskeletal examination can identify problems like hip dislocation, scoliosis, and contractures. A speech and language evaluation will also show a child's intellectual development and their ability to create speech sounds.
Cerebral Palsy is diagnosed using neuroimaging which allows doctors to view the brain in great detail. It is a noninvasive method to determine the severity of brain injury. It is not able to help doctors predict the effects of the injury on a child's symptoms.
In certain instances the diagnosis of cerebral palsy cannot be made until the child is a few years old, because symptoms can change during this period. The classification of a disorder in terms of severity, topographical location, and muscle tone could be useful in determining a child's level of impairment and the impact it has on the treatment.
The most effective treatment options for Cerebral Palsy include physical and occupational therapy. They can aid in improving the mobility of a child and reduce the risk of joint problems such as scoliosis. Speech therapy and adaptive equipment can assist the child with their daily activities and allow them to better interact with family and others. There are a variety of options for financial aid available based on the specific circumstances that lead to the child's condition. There are also charities and foundations that can pay for medical treatment and care.
Brachial Plexus Injury
A brachial-plexus injury happens when the five nerves that branch from the spine at the neck are injured. These nerves transmit signals from the spine to the shoulder, hand and arm. The brachial plexus is located on both sides of the body. Some infants can recover without treatment but the majority will benefit from physical therapy and occupational therapy. A smaller group of babies might require surgery to achieve satisfactory results.
A baby with an injury to the brachial plexus can be diagnosed by their primary care doctor in light of their medical history and physical examination. Doctors can request special imaging tests like an MRI, CT scan or nerve conduction studies, however these tests are less reliable for babies. Doctors can assess the strength and range of motion of the child's arms through gentle range-of-motion exercises. This allows them to track the improvement over time.
The symptoms of a brachial the plexus injury can vary based on the severity of the injury and which nerves are affected. Symptoms include a weak arm, reduced muscle movement, and decreased sensation in the hand. The symptoms usually affect just one side of the body. However, in some cases, both sides may be affected.
The most frequent cause is Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy (NBPP) however, it can also be caused by other causes. Brachial plexus injuries are more frequent in large babies, those who are in a breech
licensed birth injury attorneys position, or those who must be pulled during delivery. This type of injury can also happen to athletes who engage in contact sports like football and blunt trauma.
NBPP can be identified at an early age, typically within six to eight weeks following
trustworthy birth injury lawyer. Most children will recover without intervention, but those who do not show improvement by one month should be assessed by a team that can manage the disorder. These teams are typically made by an orthopedist for children, 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 into the hand. The brachial plexus nerves may be damaged during delivery, causing weakness or paralysis to the affected arm. The most commonly reported form of this condition is Erb's palsy. It is caused by significant stretching or tear of the upper brachial nerves during the labor and birth.
A physician can diagnose Erb's Palsy by performing a physical examination of the infant's arm. The health care provider looks for a lack of movement in the affected hand or wrist, a limping wrist and a lack in Moro reflexes (the infant's involuntary response to a loss of head support). The health care professional could also request an imaging test, like an ultrasound or X-ray, or a nerve test such as an electromyogram or a nerve conduction study.
In many cases, Erb's palsy occurs when an inexperienced clinician applies too much lateral pressure to the infant during delivery with forceps. This type of traction can be minimized by having the second stage of labor be less invasive or having the mother lay on her back for a part of the delivery. A doctor can help reduce the risk of this type of injury by giving birth via C-section.
Other brachial plexus injury is possible in addition to Erb's palsy. Klumpke palsy is a more serious type of this condition that involves damage to the brachial plexus nerves in the lower region. This type of injury can be described as "waiter's tips" because the limb is suspended by the side, rotated to the medially and pronated. It also is flexed, extended and flexed at the wrist.
It is crucial to contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can in the event that your child is diagnosed with one of these conditions. Beth has over 18 years of experience in the
birth injury lawyers and labor process and can assist you to determine if the doctor treating your child committed acts of negligence which could have led to these avoidable injuries.
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypoxic encephalopathy ischemic (HIE) occurs when a birth defect reduces blood flow and oxygen to the baby. HIE is a serious condition that can result in permanent severe brain damage. HIE's effects can be severe or mild and usually start within a few weeks after
dedicated birth injury lawyer. HIE is one of many conditions that fall into a larger category of birth-related injuries called neonatal encephalopathy (NE).
A baby can develop HIE due to complications during labor and delivery, such as excessive bleeding in the mother's blood vessels, a breech birth, prolonged labor and delivery or forceps delivery. The baby's birth weight is low and could be a cause of HIE.
To diagnose HIE doctors will analyze the infant's APGAR score and search for signs of a neurological impairment. A low APGAR score may indicate the need for medical intervention. Doctors can use blood tests to assess the acid buildup in the umbilical cord, which indicates that a baby might have been suffering from an oxygen deficiency or a decreased flow of blood.
If a child is suspected of having HIE the doctors usually try to treat it using a treatment known as therapeutic hypothermia. In this procedure the infant is swaddled in a cooling blanket and given medicine to aid in getting sleep. During cooling, doctors will check the infant's heart rate, breathing, body temperature and brain activity.
After the baby has fully re-warmed a magnetic resonance image (MRI) will be performed. MRIs are best for identifying HIE and its pattern of injury. An MRI could provide a time-frame for the injury, which could be useful in determining if the child's symptoms are caused by HIE.
Following a diagnosis of HIE babies must be monitored closely for the rest of their lives. They'll see a neonatologist and neurologist, and could receive physical, speech and occupational therapy to help them deal with their symptoms. The goal is to get the children as healthy as is possible and assist them in reaching their full potential.
