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Cerebral palsy and Erb's palsy are significant birth injuries that can arise from complications during delivery, profoundly impacting families. Understanding these conditions is crucial for parents and healthcare providers alike, especially when considering the legal implications and the importance of finding an experienced attorney near you to navigate potential medical malpractice cases.
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Explore the critical information on cerebral palsy and Erb's palsy, two common birth injuries, including their causes, symptoms, and legal implications. If you suspect medical negligence, consult an experienced attorney near you to understand your legal options and secure the compensation your family deserves.
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Jan 28, 2025 08:36 PM
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Understanding Cerebral Palsy and Erb's Palsy: Birth Injuries Explained
Introduction
Some of the most common birth injuries result from two very different conditions known as cerebral palsy and Erb's palsy. These conditions often arise from complications during birth, and understanding their causes and implications is crucial for parents and healthcare providers. This article explores what cerebral palsy and Erb's palsy are, their causes, symptoms, and the legal implications for families. Whether you're a parent seeking help or a healthcare professional looking to understand your responsibilities, this guide offers essential information on these birth injuries.
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy (CP) includes several disorders affecting a baby's brain function and body movement. It can result from an injury to a baby's brain in the womb, during delivery, sometime after birth, or from a lack of oxygen flow to a baby's brain during delivery.
Common Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Situations contributing to cerebral palsy include:
- Untreated fetal distress during the birthing process
- A treating physician/obstetrician's failure to provide adequate oxygen to the baby, such as by c-section, or unreasonable delay in performing the procedure
- A mother's use of a harmful prescription drug during pregnancy
- Prolonged bleeding in the baby's brain after delivery, usually due to head trauma
- Extremely premature birth
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Symptoms of cerebral palsy in a child may take some time to show. Slow development or missing milestones can signal the condition. Risk factors for cerebral palsy include:
- Toxic exposure or infections from the mother
- Certain illnesses as a newborn, including bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, severe jaundice, or bleeding to the brain
- Poor prenatal care
The lifetime costs for treating cerebral palsy can be expensive. A successful lawsuit can ensure your family has the financial means to cover your child's care costs.
What is Erb's Palsy?
Erb's palsy, also known as brachial plexus palsy, happens in about two out of every 1,000 deliveries. It's a birth injury that occurs when a baby suffers a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that travel from the spinal cord to the arm.
Common Causes of Erb's Palsy
Erb's palsy often occurs during delivery when the baby's head or neck gets stretched to the side. It can also happen due to the baby's shoulder position, known as shoulder dystocia. This condition can occur if the shoulders become trapped in the birth canal after delivery of the head. A breech birth is also a risk factor leading to Erb's palsy.
Symptoms of Erb's Palsy
Symptoms of Erb's palsy in the baby can include:
- Paralysis or limpness in the arm
- Limited or no movement in fingers and hands
- Loss of sensation in the hands and fingers
Often, the baby holds the affected arm very close to the body and cannot move the arm, hands, or fingers. Erb's palsy complications are typically the result of a treating physician or obstetrician's failure to recognize that the delivery required a cesarean section due to the baby's size, failure to adequately deliver the baby in situations involving shoulder dystocia, or use of excessive pressure on the baby's head, neck, or shoulder during delivery.
Treatment and Therapy for Erb's Palsy
If a baby is diagnosed with Erb's palsy, treatment and therapy, such as arm immobilization and special exercises, may help to improve or eliminate the condition. If the condition is severe or permanent enough, surgery may be necessary to correct the problem.
Legal Implications
If you believe that a medical professional's actions caused your child's birth injury, it's wise to consider bringing a medical malpractice case. An experienced birth injury attorney can help explain your legal options relating to a brain injury lawsuit, including available compensation and what parties you can hold responsible for the personal injuries. Most attorneys will offer a free case review for a cerebral palsy or an Erb's palsy lawsuit.
Conclusion
Understanding cerebral palsy and Erb's palsy, and their relation to birth injuries, is essential for both parents and healthcare providers. If you suspect negligence, consulting with a knowledgeable attorney is vital. ReferU.AI is the only platform that leverages AI to efficiently and accurately assess each user's unique legal needs and objectively recommend attorneys based on their proven success in similar cases according to actual court records. By providing smarter results, users gain easier access to better representation and outcomes. Visit ReferU.AI to find an attorney near you today.
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