Birth Injury Case Evaluation

Parents of children who suffer from birth injuries that are preventable face astronomical medical costs, difficult therapies, and permanent disabilities. The process of holding medical providers accountable through medical malpractice claims could reduce the financial burdens and ensure justice.

In order to win a case, attorneys must prove that the doctors or hospitals have violated the accepted standards of care during the labor and delivery. This is usually done through a thorough review of medical records, or expert witness testimony.

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral Palsy is permanent motor impairment caused by injuries to the developing central nervous system, which can occur in utero, during delivery (perinatal) or in the early stages of infanthood. It affects a wide range of body movements. It can be mild, moderate or even severe in intensity. The condition's symptoms vary with age, but it's not progressive.

It is not a testable condition like many other. However an extensive and thorough evaluation can aid medical professionals in determining whether or the child's problem is caused by cerebral palsy lawyer palsy. This includes a thorough assessment of mobility and neurological issues.

The examinations will focus on the child's balance and muscle tone and balance, as well as their reflexes and ability to move. A musculoskeletal examination can identify hip dislocations, scoliosis and contractures. Additionally a speech and language evaluation can help determine a child's level of development in terms of intelligence and speech sound production.

Neuroimaging is a kind of imaging that permits doctors to see the brain in detail is frequently used in diagnosing Cerebral Palsy. This is a noninvasive way of assessing the extent of brain damage. However, it doesn't permit doctors to predict the effect of that injury on a child's symptoms.

In some instances the diagnosis of cerebral palsy is not able to be established until the child is a few years old, because symptoms can fluctuate during this period. Despite this however, a classification of a condition on the basis of severity, topographical distribution and muscle tone is a good method of communicating a child's degree of impairment and influence treatment.

Physical and occupational therapy are among the most effective treatment options for Cerebral Palsy. These can help improve the mobility of a child and reduce the risk of joint problems such as scoliosis. Additionally, speech therapy and the use of adaptive equipment can aid in the child's daily activities and enable them to interact more fully with family members and other. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the child's health there are a variety of types of financial assistance available. There are also charity groups and foundations that can ease the burden of paying for treatment and care.

Brachial Plexus Injury

A brachial-plexus injury is the result of an injury to the five nerves that branch off from the spinal cord in the neck and conduct signals from the spinal cord to the arm, shoulder and hand. The brachial plexus is located on both sides of the body. Some infants who suffer from brachial-plexus injuries will recover without treatment, however the majority will benefit from occupational and physical therapy. A smaller percentage of infants may require surgical intervention to achieve good results.

A baby who has an injury to the brachial plexus is diagnosed by their primary care physician based on their medical history and physical exam. Doctors can order specific imaging tests like an MRI, CT scan or nerve conduction studies, however these tests are not as appropriate for babies. Doctors can also assess the strength and movement of the muscles of children's arms by performing gentle exercises for range of motion that help them track the progress of recovery over time.

The symptoms of brachial plexus injuries can vary based on how severe the injury is and which nerves have been affected. The signs can include weakness of the arm, a lack of movement of the muscles, and a decrease in sensation (feeling) in the hand. Most often, the symptoms affect just one side of the body, but sometimes both sides are affected equally.

The most frequent reason is Neonatal Brachial plexus Palsy (NBPP) however it could be caused by other causes. Babies who are overweight and have a breech posture or who are pulled forcibly during birth could be more at risk of suffering a brachial plexus injury. This type of injury is also common for athletes who participate in contact sports like football, and from blunt trauma.

NBPP is an illness that can be identified early, typically within six weeks of birth. Most children recover without intervention, but those who are not improving by one month should be assessed by a team that can manage the disorder. The teams typically consist of a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, a physiatrist, and physical therapy.

Erb's Palsy

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

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

In many cases, Erb's paralysis is a result of an inexperienced clinician applying too much lateral traction the infant during a forceps delivery. This type of traction may be reduced by having the second phase of labor be shorter or by placing the mother on her back for a part of the delivery. A doctor can also in reducing the chance of this kind of injury by giving birth via C-section.

Many other types of brachial plexus injuries may occur in addition to Erb's palsy. Klumpke palsy is a more severe form of this condition that causes injury to the nerves of the lower brachial plexus. This type of injury is often described as a "waiter's tip" posture due to the fact that the limb hangs down by the side and is rotated medially, pronated, flexed, and extended at the wrist.

It is essential to seek out a medical malpractice lawyer immediately in the event that your child is diagnosed with one of these conditions. Beth has more than 18 years of experience in specialized experience in labor and delivery, and can help determine whether your child's doctor committed acts of obstetrics negligence attorney that could have caused these preventable injuries.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), also known as hypoxic ischemic brain damage, happens when a problem during birth decreases the oxygen and blood supply to the infant. HIE is a serious brain condition that can lead to permanent brain damage. HIE's effects may be severe or mild and usually start within a few weeks of birth injury lawyers. 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 by problems during birth and labor. These include excessive bleeding in the mother's blood vessels as well as forceps delivery, prolonged labor and bleeding excessively. A baby's weight loss may be the reason for HIE.

To diagnose HIE doctors will analyze the infant's APGAR score and search for signs of a neurological impairment. A low APGAR could suggest the need for immediate medical care. Doctors can also conduct blood tests to measure the level of acid in the umbilical cord which can indicate that a baby is suffering from an oxygen deficiency or decreased blood flow to the brain.

If a physician suspects that the child is suffering from HIE, they will often employ a treatment known as therapeutic hypothermia to combat the condition. In this procedure, the child is placed under a cooling blanket, and medicine is given to help them sleep. During cooling, doctors will check the infant's heart rate 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 best method to determine HIE and its specific childbirth injury law pattern. The results of an MRI can show the time frame of injury which can be helpful when trying to determine whether the child's symptoms are due to HIE.

If you are diagnosed with HIE, babies should be monitored closely for the rest of their lives. They will visit a neurologist and a neonatologist, and may receive speech, physical, and occupational therapy to manage their symptoms. The aim is to help these children realize their full potential and get them as healthy as they can.