erbs palsy lawyer west palm beach
medical
Medical mistakes are responsible for many birth injury cases and it would be impossible for a parent, alone, to determine if medical
malpractice caused their child's injury. It is only through the dedicated and thorough efforts of a legal and medical team that the cause can be
ascertained. Medical negligence occurs more frequently than any patient would care to know and leads to numerous birth injuries every year with
injuries of various types including mental retardation, cerebral palsy , limb paralysis and Erb’s palsy .
brachial
Brachial plexus palsy is the result of shoulder dystocia which occurs at birth if the infant's shoulder is caught behind the pelvic bone of
the mother. Attempts to dislodge the shoulder may cause excess stretching and tear the nerves. Brachial plexus palsy does not have to result in
lifelong disabilities. Early treatment can produce great improvements for many cases. Brachial plexus injuries usually occur during the birth
process when one or both of the infant's shoulders are lodged behind the mother's pelvic bone during birth. This is called shoulder dystocia.
Brachial plexus injuries are caused by damage to those nerves. Symptoms may include a limp or paralyzed arm, lack of muscle control in the
arm, hand, or wrist, and lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or hand. Brachial plexus palsy in all forms can be treated through focused
occupational and physical therapy-80% of brachial plexus palsy cases do not require surgical intervention to heal. It is essential that anyone
suffering from brachial plexus palsy begin treatment as soon as possible. Brachial means arm, and plexus refers to a network of nerves. The
brachial plexus conducts signals from the spine to the arm and hand.
nerve,nerves
Nerve surgery will not restore normal function, and is usually not helpful for older infants. Because nerves recover very slowly, it may take
several months, or even years, for nerves repaired at the neck to reach the muscles of the lower arm and hand. Nerve surgery is also an option,
but only for infants less than one year old. Unfortunately, nerve surgery cannot restore normal function completely.
treatments,treatment
Treatments include physical therapy, nerve surgery and tendon transfer. It is extremely important for parents, grandparents or others caring
for the baby to follow the doctor?s instructions and take an active role in rehabilitation ? Treatment always includes physical therapy and may
require surgery to attempt to repair or replace damaged nerve fibers. Fortunately, many babies recover spontaneously during the first three
months after injury, and some degree of improvement can be seen up to the age of two. Treatment includes range of motion exercises while the
nerves heal.
Treatment for Erb's Palsy that does not spontaneously recover generally consists of exercise and physical therapy. In 80% of the babies born
with Erb's Palsy, recovery will occur without a surgical intervention.
doctors,doctor
Doctors will often describe which type of spastic cerebral palsy a patient has, based on which limbs are affected. The names given to these
types combine a Latin description of affected limbs with the term plegia or paresis, meaning paralyzed or weak. Doctors did not follow standard
medical procedures for managing a post-date pregnancy.
child,child's
Children who are higher-than-average weight are more susceptible to this type of birth injury. Childbirth is extremely unpredictable, in fact,
80% of childbirths have some form of complication. All of these potential complications mean that doctors must make sudden split-second decisions
to react to problems during childbirth. Childbirth is a complicated process, requiring a high level of care from the physician for the infant.
Erb's palsy, which is often caused by birth trauma, is an injury that is largely preventable due to modern medical technology and technique.
Children develop at different rates, and a delay in reaching one developmental marker or another should not be cause for alarm. However, if
you observe muscle weakness or paralysis, or if your child is not developing the motors skills appropriate for his or her age, talk to your
doctor.
Childbirth can be one of the most joyous and amazing times in a family’s life. However, when a birth injury occurs, the birth of a child can
also be one of the most emotionally painful and devastating events you will ever endure. Childbirth should be a magical and joyous time for a
family. But when the newborn suffers a birth injury leading to conditions like cerebral palsy or Erb's palsy, all the hopes and dreams for your
newborn child's future can seem suddenly out of reach.
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