Birth Injury Case Evaluation

Children who suffer from preventable birth injuries face astronomical medical expenses, challenging treatments and permanent disabilities. The process of holding medical professionals accountable through medical malpractice claims may aid in easing financial burdens and provide justice.

In order to win a case lawyers must prove that the hospital or doctor did not follow accepted standards of care during the labor and delivery. This is typically accomplished through a thorough review of medical records, or expert witness testimony.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy, also known as cerebral palsy, is a permanent impairment caused by a trauma to the central nervous system. It 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 symptoms of the condition vary with age, but it is not progressive.

In contrast to other conditions, it is not testable. Nevertheless an extensive and thorough examination will help medical professionals determine whether or the child's condition is caused by cerebral palsy. This includes a full neurological and mobility assessment.

The evaluations will examine the child's muscle tone, posture and balance, reflexes, ability to move, and other factors that influence a child's movements. 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 produce speech sounds.

Cerebral Palsy is diagnosed using neuroimaging, which allows doctors to look at the brain in a detailed manner. This is a noninvasive way to assess the extent of brain damage. It is not able to help doctors predict the effects of the injury on a child’s symptoms.

In some cases the diagnosis of cerebral palsy is not able to be established until the child is at least a year old, as symptoms can change during this period. Despite this however, a classification of a condition based on severity, topographical distribution and muscle tone is a good method of communicating a child's degree of impairment and influence the treatment.

The most effective treatment options for Cerebral Palsy include physical and occupational therapy. These can help improve the mobility of children and decrease the risk of joint deformities like scoliosis. Speech therapy and adaptive equipment can help the child with his or her daily activities and allow them to be more social with family members and other. There are many financial aid options available depending on the specific circumstances that lead to the child's health. This includes charity groups and foundations that help ease the burden of paying for treatment and care.

Brachial Plexus Injury

A brachial-plexus injury happens when the five nerves that connect to the neck spine to the spine are damaged. These nerves transmit signals from the spine to the shoulder, hand and arm. There is a brachial plexus on each side of the body. Some infants recover without treatment, but the majority will benefit from occupational and physical therapy. A smaller group of infants may require surgery to achieve good results.

A doctor is able to diagnose a baby's brachial plexus injuries on the basis of the medical history and physical examination. Doctors can order specific imaging tests such as an MRI, CT scan or nerve conduction studies, however these tests are less appropriate for babies. Doctors can assess the strength and range of motion of the child's arms through gentle exercises for range of motion. This helps them monitor the improvement over time.

The symptoms of a strain can differ based on the extent of the injury as well as which nerves are affected. The signs include a weak arm muscles, a reduced range of motion and decreased sensation in the hand. Often the symptoms affect one side of the body, however sometimes both sides are affected equally.

Neonatal brachial-plexus palsy (NBPP) is the most frequent cause of a birth injury that affects the brachial plexus however, it can be caused by other causes. Babies who are obese and have a breech posture or are forced to pull during delivery could be at higher risk of suffering from a brachial injury. This type of injury attorney near me can also occur in athletes who engage in contact sports such as football and blunt trauma.

NBPP is a condition that is diagnosed early, usually within six weeks of the birth. Most children recover with no intervention, but those that are not improving by a month should be evaluated by a team that can manage the disorder. The teams typically consist comprising an orthopedist for children, a physiatrist and a physical therapist.

Erb's Palsy

The brachial plexus (pronounced brake-ee-al), is a grouping of nerves that run from the spinal chord to the shoulder, and through the arm until the hand. If this nerve group are damaged during delivery, it could cause weakness or paralysis of the affected arm. Erb's palsy is the most commonly reported kind. It is caused by a significant stretching or tearing of the upper brachial nerves during labor and delivery.

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

In many cases, Erb’s palsy can occur when an inexperienced physician applies too much lateral tension to the infant during forceps delivery. This type of traction could be reduced by using a shorter second stage of labor or by having the mother lie on her back during a portion of the delivery. By delivering via C-section, a doctor can reduce the chance of best injury lawyers.

Several other types of injuries to the brachial system can occur in addition to Erb's palsy. Klumpke Palsy is the more severe form of this condition, which involves damage to lower brachial nerves. This kind of injury is usually referred to as a "waiter's tip" posture due to the fact that the limb hangs to the side and is rotated medially, pronated, flexed and extended at the wrist.

If your child is diagnosed with any of these conditions it is crucial to talk with an attorney for medical malpractice immediately. Beth has more than 18 years of experience in labor and birth and can help determine if the doctor who treated your child was negligent and could have led to these preventable injuries.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is also known as hypoxic ischemic brain damage, happens when a problem during birth reduces blood and oxygen supply to the infant. HIE is a serious brain condition that can cause permanent brain damage. HIE's effects can be mild or severe and usually begin within a few weeks of birth. HIE is one of many conditions that belong to a larger group 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, forceps delivery, prolonged labor, and excessive bleeding. It is possible that a baby can have an underlying problem such as a low birth weight, which could cause HIE.

To diagnose HIE in infants, doctors will take a look at the infant's APGAR score and any indications of neurological impairment. A low APGAR score can signal the need for medical intervention. Doctors can also conduct blood tests to measure the level of acid in the umbilical cord, which could indicate that a baby is suffering from an oxygen shortage or a decreased flow of blood to the brain.

If an infant is suspected to have HIE the doctors usually try to combat it with a procedure known as therapeutic hypothermia. In this procedure the child is placed in a cooling blanket and given medicine to help him or her sleep. During the cooling process doctors continuously check the heart rate, breathing condition and body temperature, in addition to brain activity.

After the baby has been fully re-warmed, a magnetic resonance image (MRI) will be performed. MRIs are the best injury lawyer near me way to detect HIE and its particular injury pattern. An MRI may show a time frame for the Injury Attorney Lawyer, which is useful in determining if the child's symptoms are caused by HIE.

Following a diagnosis of HIE infants should be closely monitored throughout their lives. They'll see a pediatrician as well as a neurologist, and they may undergo physical, speech or occupational therapy to help them cope with their symptoms. The goal is to make the children as healthy as is possible and to help them reach their full potential.