There are several different types of injuries that can result to a baby at birth as a result of trauma. Normally the babies' head comes down through the birth canal and through the bones of the pelvis of the mother. When the babies' head comes out, the rest of the body usually follows, because the head is usually the largest presenting part that has to come through the birth canal.
Sometimes doctors will use a vacuum which is a suction device attached to the head, to pull the babies' head out. On occasion, if the baby is too big, the baby gets stuck. When that occurs, the doctor has to twist and turn and maneuver the babies' head in relation to the body in order to get the body out. Sometimes when that happens, the brachial plexus, which is a collection of nerves that exit the spinal cord in the neck, and supply the nerve impulses to the arms, gets damaged.
These nerves can get stretched, pulled, and sometimes even avulsed, or actually pulled out of their sockets in the spinal cord. When there is an injury to the brachial plexus, then the baby is born with what is called brachial plexus injury or erbs palsy. A baby with brachial plexus can be identified, as the arm is immediately noticed to be limp and weak, and if it doesn't recover, the baby is left with a permanent injury, in which he or she can never move their hand or arm. This can result in life-long injuries and disabilities to the child.
When the Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel & Associates presents a medical malpractice case to the jury, we have to explain the anatomy of a baby, the abnormalities that the doctor was faced with, and what the doctor did to actually cause the injury to the child. If the jury understands how the injury occurred, they are more likely to understand why it was negligent.
Sometimes doctors will use a vacuum which is a suction device attached to the head, to pull the babies' head out. On occasion, if the baby is too big, the baby gets stuck. When that occurs, the doctor has to twist and turn and maneuver the babies' head in relation to the body in order to get the body out. Sometimes when that happens, the brachial plexus, which is a collection of nerves that exit the spinal cord in the neck, and supply the nerve impulses to the arms, gets damaged.
These nerves can get stretched, pulled, and sometimes even avulsed, or actually pulled out of their sockets in the spinal cord. When there is an injury to the brachial plexus, then the baby is born with what is called brachial plexus injury or erbs palsy. A baby with brachial plexus can be identified, as the arm is immediately noticed to be limp and weak, and if it doesn't recover, the baby is left with a permanent injury, in which he or she can never move their hand or arm. This can result in life-long injuries and disabilities to the child.
When the Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel & Associates presents a medical malpractice case to the jury, we have to explain the anatomy of a baby, the abnormalities that the doctor was faced with, and what the doctor did to actually cause the injury to the child. If the jury understands how the injury occurred, they are more likely to understand why it was negligent.
