Even under the best circumstances, the birth of a child is complicated and can be difficult. If and when something goes wrong, medical staff have very little time to react with appropriate treatment. One of these emergency conditions, called shoulder dystocia, can be a leading cause of paralysis among Phoenix , Arizona birth injury victims.
During a baby's birth, the most difficult part of delivery is usually the passage of the baby's shoulders through the birth canal. Shoulder dystocia occurs when one shoulder gets temporarily stuck behind the mother's pelvic bone. In most cases of shoulder dystocia at our Phoenix, Arizona hospitals, the condition is quickly resolved by the doctor with no lasting injury to the child. However, if inappropriate measures are taken to dislodge the baby, it is possible to cause nerve damage and paralysis.
Shoulder dystocia can pull, stretch, and even tear the nerves in the shoulder and arm of the baby, causing weakness and paralysis that can take months to disappear. In the most extreme cases, shoulder dystocia causes permanent paralysis; our lawyers in Phoenix, Arizona have found that the emotional and financial toll associated with these children can be nearly overwhelming.
This type of paralysis is the general name given to paralysis of the shoulder, arm and hand and is nearly always caused by shoulder dystocia. Brachial plexus palsy is rarely complete and usually manifests itself as a general weakness of the arm and hand.
Erb's palsy results when only some of the nerves are affected in the brachial plexus, or bundle of nerves that serves the arm and hand. Babies with Erb's palsy experience weakness or paralysis in the shoulder and upper arm.
Klumpke's palsy is the rarest type of paralysis caused by shoulder dystocia in babies born in Phoenix and surrounding Arizona communities; much like Erb's palsy, only a portion of the arm is affected; in this case, the lower arm, wrist, and hand experience paralysis.
Since every case of shoulder dystocia is slightly different, parents often find it difficult to determine on their own whether their child's birth injury was caused by medical malpractice. Our birth injury lawyers have considerable expertise in compiling statements and medical records that put together an accurate picture of the situation.
If you believe that your child's shoulder dystocia was caused by medical malpractice in a Phoenix, Arizona hospital, you must take immediate action to secure the best chance of full compensation. Contact the medical malpractice attorneys of Phillips Law Group today for a free consultation; they are respectful legal advocates who will fight for the rights of you and your child.
If you suspect that your baby's shoulder dystocia situation was worsened by medical malpractice, contact the Phoenix, Arizona lawyers of Phillips Law Group.
