Fayetteville, AR Attorney for Brachial Palsy Caused During Childbirth

Brachial plexus birth palsy, also known as Erb’s palsy, is a serious injury that occurs in about two of every 1,000 children that are born. If a child is born with Erb’s palsy, it may be due to the negligent actions of a doctor during the delivery. You and your child should not have to bear the burden of this injury due to a careless medical practitioner. If your child was injured during childbirth and developed brachial palsy, contact an experienced Fayetteville brachial palsy injury attorney.

The Kieklak Law Firm understands how a birth injury to your child can affect your family, and we are here for you in your time of need. Our firm has worked with residents across Northwest Arkansas, and we would be honored to provide you with quality legal services. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact the Kieklak Law Firm at (479) 316-0438, or contact us online.

Types of Brachial Palsy

The brachial plexus is an extensive bundle of nerves around the neck that are responsible for motion in the arms and hands. If a child suffers an injury to their brachial plexus, the injury could cause a number of issues. For example, the child may be able to move their arm but could suffer a loss of sensation in their fingers.

The following is a list of types of brachial plexus injuries that may occur during childbirth.

Neurapraxia

Neurapraxia occurs when a nerve is stretched extremely tight, but the nerve does not tear. If a physician does not exercise caution regarding the delivery of a child, they can pull the arm of the child with too much force, causing the child to develop neurapraxia.

While this injury typically heals within three months, if the injury is severe, a child may require treatment or even surgery.

Neuroma

A neuroma is another type of stretch injury that occurs in brachial plexus. A neuroma is different from neurapraxia because it affects the nerve fibers of the brachial plexus forming scar tissue that will severely damage the nerves.

Unlike neurapraxia, a neuroma will leave a child with some level of permanent damage.

Rupture

A rupture occurs when the nerves of the brachial plexus are pulled too excessively and are torn. If an infant suffers a rupture of the nerve in the brachial plexus, they may require surgery to correct the issue.

Avulsion

An avulsion is an injury that occurs when a brachial nerve is ripped from the spinal cord. These are the most extreme type of brachial plexus injury that an infant or any person could suffer.

Unfortunately, an avulsion cannot be repaired with surgery like a nerve rupture. Avulsions can cause an infant to lose a large amount of function in their arm. While some level of control may be restored after a period of time, many people must live with the permanent damage caused by this condition.

To learn more about filing a lawsuit for brachial palsy, contact an experienced Arkansas brachial palsy injury lawyer.

Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for Brachial Palsy

If your child suffered a brachial palsy injury, it may have been caused by the actions of a negligent medical practitioner. If a doctor uses excessive force when delivering a child, there is a high chance they could stretch a nerve in the child’s arm or shoulder that could lead to the development of Erb’s palsy.

Another possibility is that a physician improperly used a birthing tool like forceps. Forceps are used to grip the body part of a child and pull them from the birth canal during delivery. However, if a doctor pulls too hard or attaches the forceps in the wrong area, the child becomes at risk of suffering a serious injury.

If you believe that your physician caused your child to develop Erb’s palsy, you should consider filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. In Arkansas, the statute of limitations to file a medical malpractice lawsuit is two years from the date of the injury. If you do not file your case within this timeframe, you risk having your claim barred. This will leave you without any alternatives to pursue a doctor or hospital for malpractice.

Our firm can help you evaluate your case and ensure that your filing deadline is met. We are ready to fight for you against negligent doctors and hospitals that do not act appropriately when delivering a child.

Contact Our Fayetteville Brachial Palsy Injury Lawyer Today

If your child developed Erb’s palsy due to medical malpractice, consult with an experienced Fayetteville medical malpractice lawyer today. With over two decades of legal experience, injury lawyer Ken Kieklak is ready to fight for justice for you and your child. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact the Kieklak Law Firm at (479) 316-0438.