Brachial Plexus Injury Lawyer Cleveland OH
If your child suffered a brachial plexus injury during the delivery process, you should speak to a brachial plexus injury lawyer Cleveland OH residents trust. Your family may be entitled to compensation. A lawyer can stand up for your rights and help you obtain the compensation you’re entitled to.
What Is a Brachial Plexus Injury?
The brachial plexus refers to the network of nerves that passes from the spinal cord through the vertebrae of the neck and into the arm. A brachial plexus injury can happen when these nerves are stretched or compressed during the delivery process. The injury can lead to pain, numbness, and even paralysis in the upper limbs.
How Does a Brachial Plexus Injury Occur During the Birthing Process?
Most of the time, a brachial plexus injury results from a doctor’s negligent actions, such as:
- Putting Too Much Pressure on the Head: During a difficult delivery, the infant’s shoulder may lodge against the mother’s pubic bone. When this occurs, the doctor may try to deliver the baby by applying intense pressure to his or her head and shoulders. Unfortunately, as a brachial plexus injury lawyer in Cleveland OH can confirm, this can result in ripping and nerve damage.
- Using Forceps Incorrectly: When mothers have difficulty pushing their baby out on their own, the doctor may choose to use forceps to facilitate the process. They must be very careful while using this tool because a baby’s skull is so delicate. If a doctor uses forceps improperly and applies excess pressure to the neck and shoulders, it can result in brachial plexus.
- Using Vacuums Incorrectly: Difficult births, such as breech birth positioning and extended labor, may require the use of a vacuum. It’s important for doctors to be properly trained in using these tools to prevent damage to the infant’s skull and nerve damage in the shoulders and neck.
How Do You Know If a Brachial Plexus Injury Occurred Because of Medical Malpractice?
It can be difficult to determine if your child’s brachial plexus injury was due to medical malpractice. That’s why it’s in your best interest to work with a birth injury lawyer Cleveland OH residents trust. He or she will look at ultrasounds, gynecological notes, and the tools used during delivery to determine if your child’s injury was caused by negligence. If your lawyer believes that medical negligence is to blame for your child’s injury, he or she will help you pursue a timely lawsuit against the medical provider. Your lawyer will gather evidence, identify key witnesses and negotiate with the insurance company. Because he or she will handle all the legwork, you can use this time to take care of your child.
If your child suffered a birth injury, schedule a consultation with a brachial plexus injury lawyer in Cleveland OH today. Contact the Mishkind Kulwicki Law Firm.
Long-Term Complications of a Brachial Plexus Injury
If your child has suffered a brachial plexus injury during the labor and delivery process, you may be concerned about how the injury will affect him or her later in life. Here are some of the long-term complications of a brachial plexus injury:
- Stiff joints. A brachial plexus injury can often result in stiff joints. Your child may have difficulty moving his or her arms or legs and can’t do certain activities alone. Your child may need assistance performing many tasks, from making a sandwich to taking a bath.
- Chronic pain. Without prompt treatment, your child may likely experience chronic pain as a result of a brachial plexus injury. The pain can make it difficult to engage in normal activities and even get out of bed some days. Physical therapy may be helpful.
- Muscle atrophy. This condition causes the shrinkage of muscle tissue due to a decreased nerve supply. The size of the muscle tissue is noticeably smaller than the same muscle group on the other side of the body.
- Osteoarthritis. As a brachial plexus injury lawyer in Cleveland, OH can confirm, children who suffer a brachial plexus injury at birth may also develop osteoarthritis down the road. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that affects joints in the shoulder, hands, knees, hips and spine. The condition can lead to severe joint pain and stiffness and limit the activities a person can do. Some people with severe cases of osteoarthritis can’t work.
- Horner’s syndrome. Horner’s syndrome causes a drooping eyelid on the side affected by brachial plexus injury. The lower lid may also be slightly elevated and there may be a constricted pupil. Some children with this condition may also have different colored eyes.
- Decreased bimanual dexterity. Bimanual dexterity refers to the ability to move both hands in a rapid and coordinated fashion. A brachial plexus injury can cause a reduction in this dexterity, making it more difficult to perform many types of jobs, including assembly line work and secretarial work.
- Psychological problems. Children who suffer brachial plexus injuries during birth can also develop psychological problems down the road. They can’t physically do the same activities that other kids can do and may experience more social challenges. This can cause some children to become depressed and isolated.