Brachial plexus injuries and other birth injuries can lead to lifelong problems for your child. When medical negligence has a negative impact on your child’s health, their healthcare team should be responsible for those injuries. After all, brachial plexus injuries and brachial plexus palsy can lead to significant problems throughout a child’s life.
It is vital to seek compensation for any injury that could have a lifelong impact on your child. These injuries can limit their employment prospects, impact their quality of life, and lead to pain and discomfort. The injuries could also lead to lifelong expenses. Adults can also suffer brachial plexus injuries, which can significantly impact their lives. An Indiana brachial plexus injury lawyer from The Law Offices of David W. Holub could help you explore potential remedies for injuries to you or your child.
What Is the Brachial Plexus?
Brachial plexus injuries—also known as brachial plexus palsy or Erb’s palsy—can lead to weakness in the affected arm and impact whether a person can raise their arm or move their hands or wrists. The brachial plexus refers to the nerves running from the neck to the arm. The nerves run from the spinal nerves C5 through T1, then extend through the shoulders to the arms and hands. They control movement and sensation in the shoulder, arm, and hand.
During a medical procedure, brachial plexus injuries are usually associated with a vaginal delivery complication called shoulder dystocia. However, an infant can recover from a brachial plexus injury if the damage is not severe. Medical malpractice issues involving brachial plexus injuries are complicated and center on establishing that mistakes were made or that the level of care provided fell below the standard reasonably expected to be followed during care and treatment. When someone has suffered nerve damage or a brachial plexus injury, an experienced Indiana brachial plexus injury attorney could help seek justice against the negligent party.
Types of Brachial Plexus Injuries
There are four main subcategories of brachial plexus injury.
Neurapraxia
Neurapraxia is an injury caused by stretching the nerves. It can be the result of compressing or pulling the brachial plexus nerve root and often leads to nerve signaling problems.
Neuroma
Neuroma is the formation of scar tissue on nerves that have been injured and healed, putting pressure on nerves and preventing them from transmitting signals.
Ruptured nerves
Ruptured nerves are wholly or partially torn, which can lead to weakness, substantial pain, and a degree of localized paralysis.
Avulsion
An avulsion is a type of torn nerve that occurs when nerves are severed from the spinal cord, potentially resulting in permanent injury and possible paralysis.
Depending on the severity of the brachial plexus injury, it can range from a minor inconvenience to a substantial hindrance. An Indiana lawyer could explain how the extent of an injury impacts damages in a brachial plexus case.
How Do People Sustain Brachial Plexus Injuries?
People can suffer brachial plexus injuries in various ways, including:
During Birth
Birth injuries are one of the most common ways for people to harm the brachial plexus. Excessive stretching of the neck or pulling on the shoulder or arms during birth can result in a brachial plexus injury. The injury can be short-term or long-term and usually requires some physical therapy or other medical intervention to improve. Some children may make a full recovery, while others may suffer the impact of Erb’s palsy for the rest of their lives.
Birth-related brachial plexus is not always the result of malpractice. These injuries often occur when a baby passes through the birth canal, which can compress or stretch the baby’s brachial plexus. Large babies with vaginal deliveries, breech births, long labors, and babies born to mothers with diabetes are all at a higher risk. However, inadequate management of risk factors can be malpractice, even in high-risk scenarios. Some potential errors include:
- Improper fetal monitoring
- Failure to recognize fetal distress
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors
- Failing to recognize risk factors for shoulder dystocia
Traumatic Accidents
Birth injuries are not the only way for people to injure their brachial plexus. Traumatic injuries can also injure the brachial plexus. Sports injuries are not uncommon, with overuse and strains potentially impacting the brachial plexus. Penetrating injuries, falls, and work-related injuries can also impinge the nerves.
Additionally, adults as well as children can suffer traumatic injury to the brachial plexus and the radial, median, and ulnar nerves that originate at the brachial plexus. Blunt trauma suffered during high-speed vehicular accidents, including motorcycle accidents, accounts for many instances of brachial plexus injuries. Gunshot wounds can also result in such injuries or general nerve injuries.
Medical Treatments
Some brachial plexus injuries are the result of other medical treatments. Shoulder surgery, rib resections, radiation therapy, and brachial plexus block can all lead to damage to the area. Sometimes, these injuries are an anticipated side effect—other times, they are the result of malpractice.
A skilled Indiana attorney could help explore the causes of a brachial plexus injury and determine whether they provide grounds for a claim.
Talk to an Indiana Brachial Plexus Injury Attorney Today
Not every brachial plexus injury is due to negligence. However, when they are, the wrongdoer should be responsible for paying for those injuries. An Indiana brachial plexus injury lawyer could investigate a claim to determine if there was negligence, identify the wrongdoers, and pursue a claim for damages. Schedule a consultation with The Law Offices of David. W. Holub to discuss your case and learn more about your legal options.