Washington Brachial Plexus Palsy

Brachial Plexus Injuries

The medical malpractice office of D'Amore Law Group, P.C. provides clients with a solid background in cases that involve Washington brachial plexus injuries and other common newborn injuries.  Our medical malpractice lawyers understand the emotional and financial hardship your family is undergoing after suffering a birth injury due to medical malpractice.  Please utilize this page as a resource for information regarding brachial plexus injury and Erb’s palsy.

What is a brachial plexus injury?

The brachial plexus is a nerve group that connects the spine with the shoulder and arms. 

One of the most common newborn injuries, a brachial plexus injury can cause limited movement and sensation in the shoulder, arms, and hands.  Because the injury can limit the child’s capacity to perform certain tasks and movements, it may leave them unable to participate in sports or other physical activities later in life.

Brachial plexus injury can occur as a result of shoulder dystocia.  Shoulder dystocia involves the baby’s shoulders becoming lodged during birth.  If a doctor fails to notice this problem or attempts to resolve it using incorrect procedures, they may be liable for your newborn’s injuries.

Erb’s Palsy

Erb’s palsy can result from a brachial plexus injury.  Erb’s palsy involves the paralysis of the area controlled by the brachial plexus, including the arms. While some infants are able to heal and recover from the nerve damage, others may require surgical intervention.  There is a possibility that if a child does not heal and regain full function of the arms by the time they are a year old, they will never recover and may develop arthritis.

Risk Factors

There are many easily identifiable risk factors that can exist during a pregnancy that indicate whether there is a possibility of a brachial plexus injury occurring during birth.  These factors include the mother’s past pregnancy history (a pattern of birth problems), gestational diabetes, the mother’s weight (overweight or obese mother’s are a higher risk), and the infant’s size (larger babies are more likely to experience injury in this way).  When doctors fail to identify or act upon these risks, it can be considered malpractice.

Please call D'Amore Law Group at 800-905-4676 or fill out our web form for a free consultation so that we may help you obtain compensation for your losses.