San Antonio Erb's Palsy Attorney

San Antonio Birth Malpractice Attorney Michael Grossman on Birth Injuries Such as Erb’s Palsy, Shoulder Dystocia, and Brachial Plexus

If a child or a mother are injured before, during, or soon after a birth has occurred due to the negligent behavior of a medical professional, Texas law allows an aggrieved party to seek compensation for that injury through a medical malpractice lawsuit for birth injuries.

Birth injuries are somewhat common and can lead to life-long problems for a child injured in the birthing process. As a result, seeking compensation for such an injury is important so that the child’s well-being can be provided for, financially speaking, for the rest of their lives. Three types of birth injuries, Erb’s Palsy, Shoulder Dystocia, and Brachial Plexus, are most often caused by excessive force exerted on a child’s body during the birthing process, and all three birth injuries can lead to serious injuries to nervous tissue and muscle tissue. San Antonio Erbs Palsy attorney Michael Grossman offers the following insight into these three types of birth injuries.

What are Brachial Plexus Injuries?

The brachial plexus is a nerve bundle that connects the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Damage to the brachial plexus can cause permanent disability. Brachial plexus injuries can occur when a baby is abnormally positioned within a womb, or when a child is abnormally large, or when a birth canal is abnormally small, or if there are other complicating matters. Partially difficult labors are known as dystocia, and approximately 20% of all childbirths are classified as dystocia. In most instances of dystocia, an assisted delivery occurs, either through forceps usage or through a cesarean-section (c-section) surgery. However, brachial plexus injuries due to dystocia can often be preventable if a medical professional is doing their job correctly and looking out for the safety of the mother and the child.

What is Shoulder Dystocia?

Shoulder dystocia refers to a shoulder injury sustained by a baby during the birthing process. Such an injury can occur when a baby’s shoulder is caught in the birth canal, either because of the baby’s positioning in the womb, the baby’s size, or the size of the birth canal. When a shoulder becomes stuck in this way, the labor process becomes hazardous to the health of the baby. Vast amounts of pressure are exerted upon the baby in this position, onto the baby’s head and neck, as well as on the umbilical cord, and this pressure can lead to hypoxia, which can cause serious brain damage. In such instances, quick action must be taken by the medical professional in order to ensure that the delivery does little to no harm to the child. An obstetrician or medical professional must readjust the baby so that the baby can get through the birth canal. If the doctor performing the delivery pulls the neck and head away from the shoulder, the brachial plexus nerves can become severed, bruised, or torn, leading to a birth injury. This can occur whether the doctor has used their hands, forceps, or even by way of a c-section. Such a birth injury is often the result of a medical professional that may be tired, inexperienced, or simply negligent.

What is Erb’s Palsy?

The resultant condition of damage to the brachial plexus nerves is known as Erb’s Palsy. Those that suffer from Erb’s Palsy can be identified by a loss of movement or a significant weakness in the arm or shoulder that was injured during birth. Further complicating the injury, the muscles in an affected arm atrophy because of their limited use, causing a further reduction in movement. Newborns that suffer from Erb’s Palsy often lack the ability to grip with an affected hand, and may not show spontaneous movement of an affected arm. Furthermore, these newborns may hold an affected arm close to their sides, but flexed in a 90 degree angle. Experienced medical professionals should be able to identify the symptoms of Erb’s Palsy immediately.

The severity of the symptoms experienced by those suffering from Erb’s Palsy is dependent on the extent of the injury sustained during their birth. In other words, if the brachial plexus nerves suffered severe injury, a child may need lifelong care which could involve adaptive technologies and physical therapy. Furthermore, such extensive damage could also affect circulatory systems and muscular systems, in addition to the sensory nervous system from where the injury originated. When the brachial plexus nerves suffer less severe damage, multiple surgeries could be required where the nerves can be repaired or even replaced. However, such repairs are often imperfect, which means that a child with Erb’s Palsy may always show weakness in the affected arm.

Contact San Antonio Erbs Palsy Attorney Michael Grossman Today

Did You Know?

Michael Grossman has been fighting for birth injury victims` rights for over 20 years. Call Mike to discuss your case. 1-855-393-0000

As you can likely tell, the medical bills and other associated costs for helping a child with Erb’s Palsy can easily run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to make sure that they receive the kind of treatment and care they deserve. If medical malpractice played a role in contributing to your child’s Erb’s Palsy, then you could stand to be compensated for your child’s medical bills, both past and future, as well as any other damages, i.e. financial losses, you may have incurred as a result of your child’s birth injury. If you believe that a negligent medical professional is to blame for your own or your child’s Erb’s Palsy condition, consider contacting Texas birth injury and malpractice lawyer Michael Grossman to assist you in holding such a doctor or obstetrician accountable for their negligence. Call us at 1-855-393-0000 (Toll Free) for a free, private legal consultation so that you can get answers to your further questions and be apprised of your possible legal options. With two decades of experience in fighting for the rights of our clients, San Antonio Erbs Palsy attorney Michael Grossman and his team at Grossman Law Offices will seek to help you get the compensation you deserve so that you can take care of your family to the best of your ability.