While injuries to the brachial plexus can occur at any age or stage of life, birth injury litigation typically deals with those sustained at birth as a result of medical or obstetrical negligence. In some cases, brachial plexus injuries are transient stretching injuries that resolve quickly without any medical intervention. In other cases, brachial plexus injuries can include severe avulsions of the brachial plexus nerves that require surgical correction, and result in life-long physical impairments.
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that originate from the top of the spine at the C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1 vertebrae, and extend through the shoulder, arm, and hand. These nerves carry signals from the spinal cord to control mobility, function, and feeling throughout the arm and hand. Injury to these nerves can interrupt these nerve signals and may result in a loss of muscle function and sensation to the affected arm.
Injuries to the brachial plexus can be classified based on which nerves are damaged. Injuries to the upper brachial plexus that affect the C5 and C6 nerve roots are known as Erb’s palsy. Erb’s palsy is the most common brachial plexus birth injury, and often arises in cases of deliveries complicated by a condition known as shoulder dystocia. Injuries to the lower brachial plexus that affect the C8 and T1 nerve roots are known as Klumpke’s palsy. In some cases, all the nerves in the brachial plexus will be affected at the same time, which is known as a total brachial plexus injury.
Shoulder dystocia is a complication of childbirth that occurs when one or both of the baby’s shoulders become stuck in the birth canal during delivery. In cases of shoulder dystocia, it is most common for the baby’s shoulder to become stuck behind the maternal pubic bone after the baby’s head has been delivered. Shoulder dystocia is an obstetrical emergency and usually requires medical intervention to carefully dislodge the baby’s shoulder from where it is trapped behind the pubic bone.
Shoulder dystocia is unpreventable. Proper management and intervention once shoulder dystocia occurs is essential to prevent brachial plexus birth injuries. Doctors, nurses, and birth attendants are trained to identify and manage shoulder dystocia through a variety of methods to free the trapped shoulder without causing injury to the baby. Unfortunately, mistakes in the management of shoulder dystocia – such as the improper application of traction to the baby’s head while the shoulder remains stuck – can result in damage to the baby’s brachial plexus by applying excessive force to the nerves at the junction of the neck and shoulder.
Brachial plexus injuries happen when the nerves are stretched or compressed, causing damage to the nerve fibers. Injuries can range in severity from minor nerve strain to serious nerve damage, rupture, and tearing. The most severe brachial plexus injuries occur when the nerve root is torn out of the spinal cord, known as “avulsion”. Brachial plexus avulsions are serious injuries caused by significant traction, or pulling, on the affected arm which causes the roots of the nerve to tear free of the spinal column.
In deliveries complicated by shoulder dystocia, the improper application of traction and force on the baby’s head can cause stretching of the brachial plexus in the trapped shoulder. In some cases, the injury to the brachial plexus will be minor and temporary. In other cases, however, excessive traction before the baby’s shoulder has been dislodged from where it is trapped can cause tearing of the nerves and result in permanent injury to the baby’s shoulder, arm, and hand.
In many cases, a serious brachial plexus injury will result in lifelong complications and possible future care costs. Children who sustain brachial plexus injuries at birth may require ongoing medical care or adaptive aids, depending upon the severity of their injury. In some cases, children may experience difficulties in school with writing or typing, keeping up with their peers, or performing daily tasks that require use of both hands. These challenges often require costly adaptive aids to improve the child’s independence, mobility, and quality of life.
The medical malpractice and birth injury lawyers at Wagners have experience navigating the complex legal and medical issues associated with brachial plexus birth injury litigation. If your child sustained a brachial plexus injury at birth, it is important to schedule a free consultation to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer and determine whether a legal claim may be in your child’s best interest.
We have nearly 80 years of experience in helping injured victims in obtaining justice for their injury claims.
If your child has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury such as Erb’s palsy or Klumpke’s palsy and you suspect medical negligence as a cause, please contact Wagners at 902-425-7330 or via email at [email protected]
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