birth injury case evaluation (ace58.com)

Parents of children with preventable birth injuries face astronomical medical bills, adversity in treatment and permanent disabilities. Medical malpractice claims can help to ease financial burdens, and provide justice.

To win a claim lawyers must prove that the doctors or hospitals violated accepted standards of care during labor and delivery. This is typically accomplished through an exhaustive review of medical records or expert witness testimony.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy Also called cerebral palsy is a permanent impairment caused by an injury to the central nervous system. It can happen during pregnancy (perinatal) or during the early years of childhood. It affects a broad range of body movements and can be mild, moderate, or severe in severity. Its symptoms can vary by age, but it is not a progressive condition.

Unlike many other conditions, it is not testable. A thorough and comprehensive assessment can help medical professionals determine if the child's condition stems from cerebral palsy. This includes a full neurological and mobility assessment.

The tests will examine the child's muscle tone and balance and also their reactions and ability to move. A musculoskeletal examination can identify hip dislocations, scoliosis and contractures. In addition a speech and language evaluation can help determine a child's level of intellectual development and speech production.

Neuroimaging, a type of imaging that permits doctors to see the brain in more detail, is often used in diagnosing Cerebral Palsy. This is a non-invasive method to assess the extent of brain injury. It does not allow doctors predict the effects of the injury on a child's symptoms.

Children may not be diagnosed with cerebral palsy until several years old as the symptoms can vary. However the classification of a condition on the basis of severity of the condition, topographic distribution and muscle tone can be useful as a method to convey a child's degree of impairment and influence 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 developing joint deformities, such as scoliosis. Speech therapy and adaptive equipment can also aid the child in their daily activities and enable him or her to interact more effectively with family members and other. There are several financial aid options available depending on the circumstances surrounding the child's health. This includes charity groups and foundations that can alleviate the burden of paying for treatment and care.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

A brachial-plexus injury happens when the five nerves which originate from the neck to the spine are damaged. These nerves transmit signals from the spine to the hand, shoulder and arm. Each side of the body has a brachial plexus. Some infants will recover without treatment but the majority will benefit from occupational and physical therapy. A smaller percentage of infants might require surgery to achieve good results.

A baby with an injury to the brachial area is diagnosed by their primary care physician in light of their medical history and physical exam. A doctor can also order special imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan or nerve conduction studies, although these tests are less reliable in babies. Doctors can also assess the strength and movement of the muscles of a child's arms by performing gentle exercises for range of motion which aids in tracking recovery over time.

The symptoms of a brachial strain can differ based on the extent of the injury as well as which nerves are affected. The signs include a weak arm muscles, a reduced range of motion and a decrease in sensation in the hand. The symptoms usually affect one side of the body, but sometimes both sides are affected equally.

The most frequently cited cause is Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy (NBPP) however, it can also be caused by other causes. Brachial plexus injuries are more common in babies who are large, who are born in a breech position, or those who have to be pulled during the birth. This type of injury is also prevalent for athletes who engage in contact sports like football, and from blunt trauma.

NBPP is a condition that is diagnosed early on, usually within six weeks of birth. Most children will recover without intervention, but those who do not improve within a month have to be assessed by an expert team. The teams typically consist by an orthopedist for children, a physiatrist and a physical therapy.

Erb's Palsy

The brachial (brake-ee-al) the plexus is a group of nerves that run from the spinal cord to the shoulder and then down the arm and into the hand. This nerve group can be damaged during birth and cause weakness or paralysis of the affected arm. Erb's Palsy is the most common type. It is caused by a significant stretching or tear of the upper brachial nerves in the birth.

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

In many cases, Erb’s palsy is caused when an untrained doctor applies too much lateral tension to the infant during delivery with forceps. This kind of traction could be reduced by having the second stage of labor be less invasive or by placing the mother on her back legal representation for birth injuries part of the delivery. When delivering via C-section, doctors can lower the chance of injury.

Other brachial plexus injury is possible in addition to Erb's Palsy. Klumpke palsy is a more serious form of this condition that involves injuries to the brachial plexus nerves in the lower region. This kind of injury is often referred to as a "waiter's tip" position because the limb hangs to the side and is rotated medially pronated, flexed and extended at the wrist.

If your child is diagnosed with any of these ailments it is essential to speak with an attorney legal guidance for birth injury medical malpractice right away. Beth has more than 18 years of experience in labor and birth and can help determine if the doctor who treated your child has committed negligence that may have caused these preventable injuries.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), also called hypoxic ischemic brain damage, is a condition that occurs when a birth defect decreases the oxygen and blood supply to the infant. HIE is a serious disorder that can lead to permanent, severe brain damage. The effects of HIE can be severe or mild and usually begin within a few weeks after birth. HIE is a condition that is part of the larger category of birth-related injuries, referred to as neonatal encephalopathy.

HIE can be caused by problems during birth injury lawsuit process and labor. These include excessive bleeding in the mother's blood vessels, forceps delivery, prolonged labor and bleeding that is excessive. A baby's low birth weight may be the reason for HIE.

To determine if there is HIE in infants, doctors look at the infant's APGAR scores as well as any signs of neurological impairment. A low APGAR score may indicate a need for immediate medical intervention. Doctors can also conduct blood tests to gauge the amount of acid that is accumulating in the umbilical cord which is a sign that a baby is suffering from an oxygen deficit or a decrease in blood flow to the brain.

If the child is believed to be suffering from HIE, doctors will often try to treat it using a treatment known as therapeutic hypothermia. During this treatment, the infant is placed in a cooling blanket and given medication to aid in 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 performed. MRIs are the best method to determine HIE and its childbirth injury law pattern. An MRI could provide a time frame for the injury, which can be helpful in determining if a child's symptoms are caused by HIE.

After an HIE diagnosis newborns will have to be closely monitored throughout their lives. They'll visit a neonatologist and neurologist, and may receive physical, speech and occupational therapy to help them deal with their symptoms. The goal is to get these children as healthy as is possible and assist them in reaching their full potential.