Introduction To The Intermediate Guide Towards Birth Injury Case Evaluation
Birth Injury Case Evaluation
Children with birth injuries that could be prevented face staggering medical bills, difficult therapies and permanent disability. Medical malpractice claims can ease financial burdens, and offer justice.
To win a claim lawyers must prove that the doctors or hospitals violated accepted standards of care during labor and birth. This is usually accomplished by thorough examination of medical records and expert witness testimony.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is a permanent motor disability caused by injuries to the embryonic central nervous system that happen in utero, at the time of birth (perinatal) or in the early stages of infanthood. It affects a wide range of body movements and can be mild, moderate or severe in severity. The symptoms may vary according to age, but the condition is not progressive.
It is not a condition that can be tested unlike other conditions. A thorough and thorough evaluation can help medical professionals determine if the child's condition is caused by cerebral palsy. This includes a thorough assessment of mobility and neurological issues.
The examinations will focus on 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. Additionally, a speech and language evaluation can indicate a child's level of intellectual development as well as speech production.
Cerebral Palsy is diagnosed using neuroimaging which allows doctors to look at the brain in detail. It is a noninvasive method to determine the severity of brain injury. However, it doesn't permit doctors to predict the effect of that injury on the child's symptoms.
In certain instances, a diagnosis of cerebral palsy may not be made until a child is a few years old, as symptoms can fluctuate during this time. The classification of a disorder according to severity, topographical location, and muscle tone can be helpful in determining the severity of impairment and impacting the treatment.
Physical and occupational therapy are among the most effective treatments for Cerebral Palsy. These therapies can improve a child’s mobility and reduce the risk of developing joint deformities, like scoliosis. Speech therapy and adaptive equipment can also assist the child with their daily activities and enable him or her to be more social with family members and other. There are a variety of financial aid options available depending on the circumstances surrounding a child's condition. This includes charity groups and foundations that can alleviate the burden of paying for a child's treatment and care.
Brachial Plexus Injuries
A brachial-plexus injury attorney lawyer is the result of an injury to the five nerves that branch off from the spinal cord at the neck. They transmit signals from the spinal cord to the arm, shoulder and hand. Each side of the body has a brachial plexus. Some infants with brachial plexus injuries recover without treatment, but the majority will benefit from occupational and physical therapy. A smaller percentage of infants may require surgery to get satisfactory results.
A doctor can identify a baby with brachial plexus injuries based on the medical history and physical examination. Doctors can request special imaging tests such as an MRI, CT scan or nerve conduction tests, however these tests are less reliable for babies. Doctors can measure the strength and range of motion of a child's arms through gentle range-of-motion exercises. This allows them to track the progress over time.
The symptoms of a the plexus injury law firm can vary based on the extent of the injury and which nerves are affected. The symptoms can include weakness in the arm, a lack of muscle movement and decreased sensation (feeling) in the hand. Often the symptoms affect one side of the body, however often both sides are equally affected.
Neonatal brachial-plexus palsy (NBPP) is the most frequent cause of a birth injury that affects the brachial nerve however it could also occur from other causes. Babies who are large and have a breech posture or who are pulled forcibly during birth could be at a higher risk of suffering from a brachial injury. This type of injury can also happen to athletes who play contact sports, such as football and blunt trauma.
NBPP is an illness that can be diagnosed early on, usually within six weeks of the 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 disorder. The teams typically consist of a pediatric orthopedic surgeon as well as a physiatrist and physical therapy.
Erb's Palsy
The brachial (brake-ee-al) plexus is a group of nerves that run from the spinal cord to the shoulder and then down the arm and into the hand. If this nerve system becomes damaged during delivery, it could cause weakness or paralysis of the affected arm. The most frequent type of this injury claims lawyers (available at writeablog.net`s website) is called Erb's palsy. It is caused by significant stretching or tearing the upper brachial nerves in delivery.
A doctor can identify Erb palsy with an examination of the infant's hand. The doctor will look for a lack of movement in the affected hand or wrist, a limping wrist and a lack in Moro reflexes (the infant's involuntary response to a loss of head support). The health care professional could also recommend an imaging test or nerve test like an X-ray, an ultrasound, or an electromyogram, or a study of nerve conduction.
In many cases, Erb's Palsy is a result of an unexperienced doctor applying too much lateral traction to the infant during a forceps birth. This type of traction can be minimized by having a shorter second stage of labor, or by having the mother lie on her back during a portion of the delivery. When delivering via C-section, doctors can decrease the chance of injury.
Other brachial plexus injuries could occur in addition to Erb’s palsy. Klumpke Palsy is the more severe type of this condition, that is characterized by damage to the lower brachial nerves. This type of injury can be described as "waiter's tips" because the limb is suspended by the side, rotated medially, and pronated. It is also flexed, extended and extended at the wrist.
If your child is diagnosed with any of these ailments it is crucial to consult a medical malpractice attorney immediately. Beth has over 18 years of experience in the birth and labor process and can help determine if the doctor who treated your child committed acts of negligence which could have led to these avoidable injuries.
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) Also known as hypoxic ischemic brain damage, happens when a birth issue reduces the oxygen and blood supply to the baby. HIE is a serious illness that can cause permanent, severe brain damage. The effects of HIE can vary from mild to severe and typically begin within a few days of birth. HIE is one of the ailments that fall under the larger category of birth-related injuries, known as neonatal encephalopathy (NE).
HIE can be caused by complications during labor and birth. This includes excessive bleeding in the mother's blood vessels and forceps delivery, long labor and bleeding excessively. A baby's low birth weight could be a cause of HIE.
To determine if a child has HIE doctors will look at the infant's APGAR scores and look for signs of a neurological impairment. A low APGAR could indicate the need for immediate medical treatment. Doctors may use blood tests to determine the buildup of acid in the umbilical chord which can indicate that a baby has suffered from an oxygen shortage or decreased blood flow.
If a doctor suspects that the child is suffering from HIE, they will often employ a treatment known as therapeutic hypothermia to treat the condition. In this procedure, the infant is placed in a cool blanket and given medicine to aid in getting sleep. During the cooling process, doctors keep track of the heart rate, breathing state and body temperature, along with brain activity.
Once a baby is fully warmed up then an electromagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan will be performed. MRIs are the best way to determine HIE and its specific injury pattern. The results of an MRI can sometimes show an injury time-frame which can be helpful in determining whether the child's symptoms are due to HIE.
If you are diagnosed with HIE babies must be closely monitored throughout their lives. They will see a neurologist and neonatologist, and they might receive speech, injury lawsuit physical, and occupational therapy to manage their symptoms. The aim is to assist these children achieve their full potential, and to make as healthy as they can.