Serious injury to the brachial plexus, the bundle of nerves radiating from the spinal column through the shoulder to the arm, is a risk of childbirth. Unlike cerebral palsy cases, where careful attention to fetal blood oxygen levels is crucial to preventing serious birth injuries, brachial plexus trauma may be caused by the obstetrician's manipulation of the fetus through the birth canal.
St. Louis Medical Malpractice Attorneys for Erb's Palsy Claims
Serious brachial plexus injury can result from negligence on the part of the delivery team. You have the right to financial recovery when such a situation is proven. Contact the AV-Preeminent* trial lawyers of Gray, Ritter & Graham, P.C., in St. Louis, to learn whether a serious arm, hand or shoulder injury in your newborn should have been avoided.
Proving the Causal Relationship Between Medical Negligence and Birth Injuries
Injury to the brachial plexus during childbirth typically reflects problems related to the size of the fetus — especially the head and neck — in relation to the size of the mother's birth canal. Shoulder dystocia is the first complication. If the fetus cannot easily be maneuvered around the pubic bone and other structures during delivery, the obstetrician might apply too much force resulting in trauma to the head, neck or shoulder.
When shoulder dystocia causes damage to the brachial plexus, serious nerve damage of varying degrees can be the result. In the milder forms, corrective surgery can prevent serious nerve damage or poor muscle development in the hand and arm. In the worst cases, including the form of brachial plexus trauma known as Erb's palsy, the hand and arm will never develop properly and the child will live with a permanent if not incapacitating disability.
Call Gray, Ritter & Graham at 314-732-0728 or 888-743-4054
GRG's experience litigating brachial plexus birth injury claims can be an important advantage for the families affected by an obstetrician's negligence. To learn more about how we can help you, contact our office in St. Louis for a free consultation.
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