Guide To Birth Injury Case Evaluation: The Intermediate Guide The Steps To Birth Injury Case Evaluation
Birth Injury Case Evaluation
Parents of children who suffer from birth injuries that are preventable are confronted with staggering medical expenses, challenging treatments and permanent disabilities. Medical malpractice claims can reduce financial burdens and offer justice.
To win a claim attorneys must show that the hospital or doctor did not follow accepted standards of care during labor and veteran birth injury lawyer. This is usually accomplished by thorough examination of medical records and expert witness testimony.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is permanent motor impairment caused by injuries to the embryonic central nervous system that happen in utero, during birth (perinatal) or in early infancy. It affects a variety of body movements. It can be mild, moderate, or severe in intensity. The symptoms can differ based on age, however the condition is not progressive.
It is not a condition that can be tested, unlike many others. A thorough and comprehensive assessment will help medical professionals determine if a child's condition is caused by cerebral palsy. This includes a full neurological and mobility assessment.
The tests will look at the child's muscle tone, posture and balance, reflexes, ability to move, and other factors that influence a child's movements. Musculoskeletal exams can reveal problems like hip dislocation, scoliosis, and contractures. A speech and language assessment will also reveal a child's intellectual development as well as their capacity to create speech sounds.
Neuroimaging, an imaging that allows doctors to examine the brain in detail, is often used in diagnosing Cerebral Palsy. This is a noninvasive method of assessing the extent of brain damage. It doesn't allow doctors to to predict the impact of the injury on a child’s symptoms.
In some instances it is possible that a diagnosis of cerebral palsy may not be established until the child is several years old, as symptoms can fluctuate during this time. However however, a classification of a condition based on severity as well as topographical distribution and tone is a good way to communicate 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 joint problems such as scoliosis. Additionally, speech therapy and the use of adaptive equipment can aid with daily activities and allow him or her to interact more fully with family members and others. There are many options for financial aid available based on the specific circumstances that lead to the child's health. There are also charities and foundations that can ease the burden of paying for treatment and medical care.
Brachial Plexus Injury
A brachial plexus injury can be the result of an injury to the five nerves that originate from the spinal cord at the neck and conduct signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand. There is a brachial nerve on each side of the body. Some infants suffering from brachial plexus injuries will heal without treatment, but the majority will benefit from physical and occupational therapy. A smaller proportion of infants may require surgery to get satisfactory results.
A doctor is able to diagnose a baby's brachial plexus injuries on the basis of the medical history and physical examination. Doctors can request special imaging tests like an MRI, CT scan or nerve conduction study, but these tests are less appropriate for babies. Doctors can test the strength and range of motion of the infant's arms by doing gentle exercises for range of motion. This helps them monitor the improvement over time.
The symptoms of brachial-plexus injuries can vary based on how severe the injury is and the nerves that have been affected. Symptoms can include weakness of the arm, muscle movement and decreased sensation (feeling) in the hand. The symptoms usually affect just one side of the body. However, occasionally both sides can be affected.
The most frequently cited cause is Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy (NBPP) however, it can also be caused by other causes. Babies who are overweight or have a breech position or who are pulled forcibly during birth could be at higher risk of suffering a brachial plexus Injury. This type of injury can also occur for athletes who engage in contact sports like football, and also from blunt trauma.
NBPP is an illness that can be identified early, typically within six weeks of birth. The majority of children will heal without treatment, but those who don't improve within a month have to be assessed by a team of experts. The teams typically consist of an orthopedic surgeon for children as well as a physiatrist and a physical therapy.
Erb's Palsy
The brachial (brake-ee-al) plexus is a group of nerves that connect the spinal cord to the shoulder, and then down the arm and into the hand. This group of nerves can be damaged during find birth injury lawyer and cause weakness or paralysis in the affected arm. Erb's Palsy is the most common kind. It is caused by a significant stretching or tearing the upper brachial nerves during delivery.
A doctor can diagnose Erb palsy with a physical exam of the infant's hand. The health professional will be looking for a lack of movement in the affected arm, a sluggish wrist, and a deficiency of Moro reflex (the infant's involuntary reaction to the reduction in head support). The health professional may also request an imaging test or nerve test, such as an X-ray, an ultrasound, or an electromyogram, or a study of nerve conduction.
In many cases, Erb's palsy can occur when an inexperienced doctor applies too much lateral pressure to the infant during forceps delivery. This type of traction can be decreased by using a shorter second stage of labor, or by placing the mother on her back during a portion of the delivery. A doctor can help to reduce the risk of this type of injury by having the baby delivered via C-section.
Other brachial plexus injuries could occur in addition to Erb's Palsy. Klumpke Palsy is the more severe type of this condition, which involves damage to lower brachial nerves. This type of injury is often referred to as a "waiter's tip" position because the limb hangs down by the side and is rotated medially, bent, pronated and extended at the wrist.
If your child is diagnosed with one of these ailments it is essential to consult an attorney for medical malpractice immediately. Beth has more than 18 years of experience in specialized expertise in labor and birth injury lawsuit timeline, and can help determine whether your child's medical provider was negligent and could have resulted in these preventable injuries.
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) occurs when a licensed birth injury attorneys issue reduces blood flow and oxygen to the infant. HIE is a serious disorder that can result in permanent serious 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 belongs to a larger group of birth injury lawsuit-related injuries referred to as neonatal Encephalopathy.
HIE can be caused by problems during labor and birth. This includes excessive bleeding in the mother’s blood vessels, forceps delivery, prolonged labor and bleeding that is excessive. It is possible that a baby might be suffering from an underlying condition such as low birth weight, which could lead to HIE.
To determine if a child has HIE, doctors will evaluate the infant's APGAR score and look for signs of a neurological impairment. A low APGAR can suggest the need for immediate medical care. Doctors can conduct blood tests to assess the buildup of acid in the umbilical chord which indicates that a baby has been suffering from an oxygen shortage or a decrease in blood flow.
If an infant is suspected of having HIE doctors often attempt to treat it with a treatment known as therapeutic hypothermia. In this procedure, the child is placed into a cooling blanket, and medication is administered to help them sleep. During the cooling process, doctors be able to monitor the infant's heartbeat as well as breathing, body temperature 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 injury pattern. The results of an MRI can show an injury time frame, which is helpful when trying to determine whether the child's symptoms may be due to HIE.
After a diagnosis of HIE babies must be closely monitored for the rest of their lives. They'll visit a neonatologist and neurologist, and may receive physical, speech and occupational therapy to help them cope with their symptoms. The goal is to make the children as healthy as is possible and help them achieve their full potential.