The brachial plexus is a collection of nerves in the shoulder
that controls movement in the shoulder and arm. These nerves can suffer damage
during labor and delivery, known as a brachial plexus injury or a neonatal
brachial plexus injury (BPP).
The earliest record of this type of birth injury extends
back to 1779, when an infant suffered arm weakness for several days after
birth. At the time, doctors did not have a clear understanding of the cause,
but today, medical experts know the 18th-century medical account
referred to a brachial plexus injury.
Contributing Factors
If your child suffered a shoulder injury during birth, you
probably have a lot of questions, namely: How
did this happen? A variety of factors – some natural and some caused by
professional negligence – can lead to a brachial plexus injury during labor and
delivery.
Brachial plexus
injury risk factors include:
- Breech Delivery
- Fetal Macrosomia (A Large Infant)
- Shoulder Dystocia
- Existing Muscle Weakness in the Neck
- Maternal Obesity
While most of these situations can arise naturally during
labor, the likelihood of a serious injury increases when doctors use forceps, vacuumextractors, or excessive force to deliver the child. Simply pulling too hard as
the baby is delivered can tear or damage the nerves in the shoulder, leading to
a brachial plexus injury. In these cases, the child's family may be able to seek compensation for the child's injuries through a medical malpractice lawsuit with the help of a birth injury attorney.
What are the symptoms and treatment options for a brachial plexus injury?
Depending on the severity of the injury, it can be
relatively easy to identify the symptoms of a brachial plexus injury. Some of the
most common signs include decreased reflexes on the affected side, limited
movement on the affected side, muscle contractions, and a claw-like appearance
of the hand on the affected side. Treatment for these conditions varies, but physical
therapy and surgery are two of the most common solutions for sever brachial
plexus injuries. In most cases, infants are able to recover fully from brachial
plexus injuries, but a severe case can lead to permanent nerve damage.
