Long-Term Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries
Despite advances and improvements in childbirth-related healthcare, instances of brachial plexus birth injuries have continued to rise over the decades.1 Such injuries may be short term or long term, depending on a number of physical and medical factors. Long-term brachial plexus birth injuries may be the result of more than one consideration, including maternal health problems, prolonged labor, breech delivery, or instrument-assisted delivery, or any combination of these, though researchers are still working to identify additional risk factors.2,3,4
Overall, the number of infants who sustain permanent damage in the form of neurological deficits or impairments has been calculated at about thirty percent.2,3 Infants who have long-term brachial plexus birth injuries require specialized care. This may include one or more of the following5:
neurosurgery
physical therapy
specialty orthotics (neck, upper limb, others)
custom-made handicap furnishings
orthopedic surgery
physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R)
occupational therapy
The costs associated with the need for any of these forms of assistance can be high. As a result, achieving fair compensation that will last for the child’s lifetime is essential. Cost increases for needed goods and services are also a major consideration.
Parents whose newborns have experienced long-term brachial plexus birth injuries due to provable medical malpractice negligence not only need valid answers to their questions, but also useful direction and effective assistance. Selecting an expert lawyer or legal team is critical to help ensure justice and fair compensation. Richard “Bo” Sharp, Esq. and Mallard & Sharp, P.A.’s goal is to obtain justice for individuals and families who are victims of birth injury medical malpractice negligence, especially when such malpractice occurs during labor and delivery. This includes cases involving long-term brachial plexus birth injuries.
Mallard & Sharp, P.A. is dedicated to providing its clients with the path to justice and financial recovery. The firm continually handles righteous cases that involve birth injuries, medical malpractice, and negligent security, as well as any other acts of negligence that cause catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.
For more information or to inquire about hiring expert legal representation for a potential birth injury medical malpractice negligence case, including long-term brachial plexus birth injuries, contact Mallard & Sharp, P.A. at 305-461-4800.
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5920392/#B2-children-05-00046
2 Foad S., Mehlman C., Ying J. The epidemiology of neonatal brachial plexus palsy in the United States. Am. J. Bone Jt. Surg. 2008;90:1258–1264. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.G.00853. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
3 Volpe K.A., Snowden J.M., Cheng Y.W., Caughey A.B. Risk factors for brachial plexus injury in a large cohort with shoulder dystocia. Arch. Gynecol. Obstet. 2016;294:925–929. doi: 10.1007/s00404-016-4067-0. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
4 Figueiredo R., Grechi G., Gepp R. Oberlin’s procedure in children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy. Child Nerv. Sys. Chns Off. J. Int. Soc. Pediatr. Neurosurg. 2016;32:1085–1091. doi: 10.1007/s00381-015-3007-9. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]