The brachial plexus is a nerve cluster that sends signals from the spine to the upper limbs. As Johns Hopkins Medicine explains, an injury to these nerves can affect movement and sensation in the arms, shoulders, and hands.
Brachial plexus injuries can happen at any age, but they are common during forceful deliveries. Doctors or nurses sometimes misuse forceps and vacuum extractors, which can injure the mother or baby.
Fortunately, most infant BPIs cure within three to six months, but some newborns suffer permanent damage that affects their physical abilities and quality of life. If your child sustained a brachial plexus injury during birth, contact Christopher Trainor & Associates.
A Detroit injury attorney will evaluate your case, gather evidence, and help you pursue the maximum compensation. Call 1-800-961-8477 to schedule a free case evaluation.
Here is a brief overview of infant brachial plexus injuries:
What are the symptoms of infant brachial plexus injuries?
The symptoms of a brachial plexus injury depend on the location of the damage and its severity, according to Mayo Clinic. Common signs include:
- Numbness in the hands, arms or shoulder;
- Paralysis in the hands, arms or shoulder;
- Pain in the upper limbs;
- And weakness in the upper limbs.
Treatment Options for Brachial Plexus Injuries
The best treatment depends on the type of BPI and its severity. There are several types of brachial plexus injuries:
- Avulsion: Nerve has pulled from spine
- Rupture: Nerve was partially torn but not at the spine
- Neurotmesis: Nerve was divided
- Neuroma: Tumor has grown from divided nerve endings
- Axonotmesis: Nerve endings were severed
- Neurapraxia: Nerve was stretched or compressed but remains attached to spine
Brachial plexus injuries may heal without medical treatment. However, the doctor may advise surgical or non-surgical intervention.
Physical therapy is one of the most effective BPI treatments. It involves gentle massages of the upper limbs and exercises that improve the infant’s range of motion.
What is the most common type of brachial plexus injury?
Neurapraxia is the least severe and most common type of BPI. It is characterized by tears or strains on the infant’s brachial plexus nerves.
Neurapraxia affects the covering and lining that protects the nerve, but it usually does not harm the nerve itself. Most cases of neurapraxia health without medical treatment.
Contact an Injury Attorney to Discuss Your Legal Options
No tragedy compares to a birth injury. Although significant injuries affect less than 1 percent of live births, babies who sustain these injuries often face lifelong cognitive and physical disabilities.
If you or your child was injured during delivery, contact a Detroit personal-injury lawyer from Christopher Trainor & Associates. Winning a medical malpractice claim is a legally complex process. It may require an independent medical evaluation, expert testimonies, and other evidence. Our attorneys have the knowledge and resources to represent your interest.
We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Schedule a free initial consultation today by calling 1-800-961-8477.