Ohio Birth Injury Lawyer
Medical Malpractice • Shoulder Dystocia • Erb’s Palsy • Klumpke’s Palsy
At Becker & Mishkind Co., L.P.A., our skilled Ohio birth injury lawyers have helped many families recover damages for birth injuries such as shoulder dystocia, Erb’s palsy, or Klumpke’s palsy. Birth injuries such as these are frequently caused by trauma that occurs during labor and delivery. If you suspect that your condition was caused by problems that occurred during birth, contact our Ohio birth injury lawyers at Becker & Mishkind Co., L.P.A.
Consequences of Shoulder Dystocia due to Medical Malpractice
Shoulder dystocia occurs during birth when one or both of the baby’s shoulders are caught behind the mother’s pelvic bone. There are early warning signs of the possibility of encountering shoulder dystocia during birth, such as history of very large babies, excessive weight gain, and gestational diabetes. In addition, there are a number of obstetrical maneuvers that a physician or midwife can perform if unexpected shoulder dystocia occurs during the birth. Shoulder dystocia is usually preventable or manageable if the obstetrician recognizes the signs and knows the maneuvers. Obstetricians should be familiar with such techniques, and if not, may have committed medical malpractice.
Shoulder dystocia can lead to Erb’s Palsy, also known as Brachioplexus Palsy. In this type of birth injury, the nerves traveling through the neck are strained or injured, resulting in a wide range of often-permanent conditions, including:
- paralysis in shoulder or arms
- lack of muscle control shoulders or arms
- facial paralysis
- inability to sit up without help
- inability to use shoulder or elbow
- sensory decrease in arm or hand
Shoulder dystocia can also lead to Klumpke’s Palsy, another brachioplexus injury. This is caused by the actual tearing of the nerves, rather than the stretching or straining of the nerves seen in Erb’s Palsy. The symptoms of Klumpke’s Palsy are similar to those of Erb’s Palsy, with the occasional drooping of the eyelids, and lack of movement in the forearm and hand as additional signs.
Treatment for Erb’s Palsy and Klumpke’s Palsy
Occasionally surgery can repair the strained or torn nerves. Physical therapy and exercise programs can help. Occupational therapy may help people later in life. However, therapy and surgery can be expensive, and do not always fully correct the brachioplexus injury.
Compensation for Birth Injuries
Birth injuries like Erb’s Palsy and Klumpke’s Palsy resulting from brachioplexus injury can cause life long disability. Years of treatment may be necessary. Your child may have difficulty adjusting in school, participating in extra-curricular activities, or working in certain fields later in life. You may be able to receive compensation if the birth injury causing the brachioplexus injury was the result of medical negligence. A doctor’s failure to recognize and manage shoulder dystocia could be medical malpractice, and you may be able to recover damages to help with expenses such as therapy bills, medical charges, and occupational therapy. Contact a skilled Ohio birth injury lawyer at Becker & Mishkind Co., L.P.A. to learn what your rights are when a birth injury occurs. For more information about birth injuries such as Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s Palsy, visit our Birth Injury Information Center.
Becker & Mishkind, Co., L.P.A.
Ohio Birth Injury Lawyers
Skylight Office Tower
1660 West Second Street, Suite 660
Cleveland, OH 44113
Telephone: 216.592.8796
Fax: 216.241.5757
Cleveland Toll Free: 866.477.4097
Contact Us
Branch Office
134 Middle Avenue
Elyria, OH 44035
Telephone: 440.328.8803
Fax: 440.323.1879
Toll Free: 866.477.4097
