Springdale, AR Crushed Infant Skull Injury During Birth Attorney

Every parent hopes that their child is born healthy. However, the negligence of a physician could cause a child to be injured at birth. In some cases, a child may even suffer a skull injury that could affect them for the rest of their life. If your child was a victim of a birth injury, you should contact an experienced Springdale birth injury attorney today.

Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, is dedicated to providing you and your child with the legal representation needed to pursue a medical malpractice claim against a negligent physician. You should not have to bear the burden of a severe injury and expensive medical bills on your own. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law at (479) 316-0438, or contact us online.

Common Causes of Infant Skull Injuries

When a child is born, they have a skull that is soft and not completely stitched together like the skull of an adult. The soft and flexible spots in an infant’s skull make it easier for the infant to exit the birth canal. While an infant’s skull is designed to help the child exit the womb safely, there is still a possibility that a child could be injured if a delivery goes wrong. As a result, the baby could suffer a skull fracture that could leave them with long-term or permanent injuries.

The following is a list of common causes of infant skull injuries.

Misuse of Birth-Assisting Instruments

When a mother has a difficult labor, the physician in charge of their delivery may opt to use delivery instruments to help deliver the child. Forceps and vacuum extractors are the most common type of instruments used to assist with the delivery of a child. Forceps are utilized to grip onto the head of a baby to pull them from the womb. However, if a physician exerts too much force when using forceps, they increase the risk of a child suffering a skull fracture.

Vacuum extractors are also attached to the head of an infant to suction a child from the womb. Similar to the improper use of forceps, using excessive force with a vacuum extractor can also cause skull fractures.

Difficult Labor

Having a prolonged labor presents an increased risk for a child to suffer a skull fracture. If an infant remains in the birth canal for an excessive amount of time, the child could become distressed. If a child is distressed, a physician may carelessly rush to deliver the child, which may result in a skull fracture.

If a physician believes that a mother could have a difficult labor, they should consider alternatives with the mother to help the delivery go smoothly. For example, speaking with a mother about a cesarean section birth may be appropriate. If a doctor fails to take the necessary steps to prepare a mother for the birth of her child, this could be held liable for negligence.

Breech Births

As the delivery date for a mother draws closer, the child should begin to move into a head-first position to make the delivery easier. This is known as vertex presentation. However, some children may never take this position and instead will remain in a feet-first position to exit the womb, also known as breech presentation. A breech birth is dangerous for an infant because the head of the infant will remain in the womb for an extended period of time, increasing the risk for a head injury.

To prevent a breech birth, a physician may suggest the use of an external cephalic version (ECV). An ECV is a procedure where a doctor will attempt to move an infant into vertex presentation by carefully pressing against the mother’s stomach to rotate the child. While this procedure is noninvasive, there is a risk that a doctor could use excessive force when moving the child, causing them to suffer a head injury.

There are a number of other reasons why a newborn child can suffer a skull fracture. For example, if hospital staff mishandles the child after they are born, this can also lead to a traumatic head injury. If you believe that your medical practitioner was responsible for a skull fracture suffered by your child, you should speak with an experienced attorney to explore your legal options.

Work with Our Experienced Springdale Crushed Skull Birth Injury Lawyers Today

If your child suffered a skull injury due to a negligent medical practitioner, you should contact an experienced Springdale birth injury lawyer today. With nearly two decades of legal experience, Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law has litigated a wide variety of birth injury cases, and he would be honored to work with you. To schedule a free case evaluation to discuss your situation, contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law at (479) 316-0438.