Birth Injury Case Evaluation

Children suffering from birth injuries that are preventable face astronomical medical expenses, challenging therapies and permanent disabilities. Holding medical professionals accountable through medical malpractice lawsuits could reduce the financial burden and bring justice.

In order to win the case attorneys must prove that doctors or hospitals did not follow accepted standards of care when it came to labor and delivery. This is typically accomplished through a thorough review of medical records or expert witness testimony.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is also known as cerebral palsy, is a permanent disability caused by an injury to the central nervous system. It can occur during pregnancy (perinatal), or in the early years of childhood. It affects a variety of body movements and can be mild, moderate or severe in its severity. Its symptoms can vary by age, but the condition isn't progressive.

It is not a condition that can be tested like many other. A thorough and comprehensive evaluation will allow medical professionals to determine if a child's illness stems from cerebral palsy. This includes a complete neurological and mobility evaluation.

The evaluations will examine the child's muscle tone, posture and balance, reflexes, capacity to move, and other factors that influence a child's movements. Musculoskeletal exams can reveal issues like hip dislocation, scoliosis, and contractures. A speech and language test will also show the child's development in terms of intellectual ability and their ability to create speech sounds.

Neuroimaging, an imaging that allows doctors to examine the brain in detail is frequently used in diagnosing Cerebral Palsy. It is a noninvasive method to determine the severity of brain injury. However, it doesn't allow doctors to predict the impact of this injury on the child's symptoms.

Children may not be diagnosed with cerebral palsy until several years old, as symptoms can change. The classification of a disorder according to severity, topographical location, and muscle tone could be useful in determining the severity of impairment and impacting the treatment.

Physical and occupational therapy are the most effective treatments for Cerebral Palsy. These therapies can improve the mobility of a child and reduce the risk of joint problems like scoliosis. Speech therapy and the use of adaptive equipment can help with daily activities and allow him or her to be more social with family members and others. Based on the specific circumstances of the child's health, there are also several forms of financial assistance available. There are also charities and foundations that can ease the burden of paying for medical treatment and care.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

A brachial-plexus injury is caused by an injury lawyers near me to the five nerves that originate from the spinal cord at the neck. They transmit signals from the to eight weeks after birth. Most children will recover with no intervention, however those who are not able to improve by the end of one month should be assessed by a team who can manage the condition. The teams typically consist of a pediatric orthopedic surgeon as well as a physiatrist and physical therapy.

Erb's Palsy

The brachial plexus (pronounced brake-ee-al), is a grouping of nerves that run from the spinal cord to the shoulder, and through the arm until the hand. If this group of nerves are injured during delivery, it may 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 tear of the upper brachial nerves during the delivery.

A doctor can diagnose Erb's Palsy by performing a physical examination of the infant's arm. The doctor will look for a lack in movement in the affected hand, a limping wrist, and a decrease in Moro reflexes (the infant's involuntary response to a loss in head support). The health care professional may also recommend an imaging test, such as an ultrasound or X-ray, or a nerve test such as an electromyogram or a nerve conduction test.

In many cases, Erb's palsy is a result of an untrained clinician applying too much lateral traction to the baby during a forceps delivery. This type of traction may be lessened by having the second phase of labor be less time-consuming or having the mother lay on her back for part of the delivery. By delivering via C-section, a doctor can reduce the chance of injury.

Several other kinds of brachial plexus injuries can occur in addition to Erb's palsy. Klumpke Palsy is the more severe form of this condition, which causes damage to the lower brachial nerves. This type of injury is commonly referred to as a "waiter's tip" posture because the limb is hung by the side and is rotated medially, bent, pronated and extended at the wrist.

It is important that you contact a medical malpractice lawyer Near me Injury as soon as possible in the event that your child is diagnosed with any of these issues. Beth has more than 18 years of experience in specialized expertise in labor and birth, and can help determine whether the medical professional who treated your child was negligent and may have led to these avoidable injuries.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), 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 could lead to permanent brain damage. HIE's effects can be mild or severe and usually begin within a few weeks of birth. HIE is a condition that is part of a larger group of birth-related injuries referred to as neonatal encephalopathy.

HIE can be caused by problems during labor and birth. These can include excessive bleeding in the mother’s blood vessels as well as forceps delivery, prolonged labor and bleeding that is excessive. It is possible that a baby might be suffering from an underlying condition such as a low birth weight that can 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 can be a sign that you need immediate medical attention. Doctors may also use blood tests to gauge the amount of acid that is accumulating in the umbilical cord, which could indicate that a baby is suffering from an oxygen deficiency or decreased blood flow to the brain.

If the child is suspected of having HIE, doctors will often try to combat it with a procedure known as therapeutic hypothermia. In this procedure, the child is placed under an ice-cold blanket and medicine is given to help them sleep. During the cooling process, doctors will continuously monitor the heart rate, breathing status and body temperature, in addition to brain activity.

When a baby is completely restored to its original temperature and re-warmed, an electromagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan will be performed. MRIs are the best injury lawyers method to determine HIE and the pattern of its lawyer near me injury. An MRI may show a time-frame for the injury, which is useful in determining whether a child's symptoms are caused by HIE.

Following a diagnosis of HIE babies must be monitored closely for the rest of their lives. They'll visit a neonatologist as well as a neurologist, and they may receive physical, speech and occupational therapy to help them deal with their symptoms. The goal is to help these kids realize their full potential and make them as healthy as possible.