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Did Your Child Suffer Shoulder Dystocia or a Brachial Plexus Injury? We Can Help.

Dystocia, or a birth that is physically obstructed in one way or another despite normal uterine contractions, is not uncommon. It can result from the positioning of the fetus in relation to the mother; abnormal contractions that are too weak, strong, or uncoordinated; or cephalopelvic disproportion, in which the pelvis cannot accommodate the size of the fetus. In the past, the attorneys at LawMD have helped clients who are dealing with the effects of dystocia, including shoulder dystocia.

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What Is Shoulder Dystocia?

In a normal delivery, a baby’s head emerges first, then its neck quickly retracts and the cheeks inflate. At this point, the shoulders should follow the head, but with shoulder dystocia, the front portion of the baby’s shoulders is blocked by the pubic bone. This interruption of the normal birth process can result in a variety of problems. For example, the umbilical cord may become trapped or the chest wall may be unable to expand. In the worst cases, the blood and oxygen supply to the infant is cut off and the baby can suffer permanent brain damage or even death. Unanticipated difficult births with complications occur in approximately 20,000 deliveries every year, or in about 0.05% of births. It is an ongoing concern for obstetricians.

The brachial plexus is basically a bundle of nerves in the area where the neck and shoulder meet. It controls the movements of the hand and arm. It is often affected by shoulder dystocia. An injury to the upper plexus results in what is known as Erb’s palsy and, if the lower plexus is harmed, the infant may suffer from Klumpke’s palsy. Both of these conditions mean a lifetime dealing with a grim disability.

A great deal of research has been conducted on shoulder dystocia, but there are still many questions about the possibility of predicting an obstructed birth, circumventing an injury to the brachial plexus, or even determining if the doctor managed the situation poorly or if it was an unavoidable tragedy in the midst of what should have been an uncomplicated delivery. At this time, some injuries may be inevitable while others may be attributed to the doctor and how he or she handled the delivery.

The severity of shoulder dystocia varies. If there is a delay of 60 seconds or less between the arrival of the infant’s head and shoulders, there is a good chance that there will be no lasting effects. Other cases, however, can result in legitimate shoulder dystocia. It is crucial that an obstetrician intervene and apply specific skills to deliver the baby unharmed when there is a delay between the delivery of the head and shoulders.

Whether physicians in the field of obstetrics believe it is a phenomenon that cannot be foreseen or avoided, injuries to the brachial plexus are still a grim reality, as is the lifetime of impediment that follows an obstructed birth. Birth injury attorneys often represent clients dealing with the grief of shoulder dystocia. As a matter of fact, it accounts for the second-highest number of malpractice compensations, slightly behind claims for birth asphyxia.

In recent years, professionals in the obstetric profession have come to consider babies who are larger than their gestational calendar indicates, or those who have macrosomia or are unusually large at their due date more at risk for difficulties during delivery. Often, these physicians have resorted to cesarean sections to avoid the risk of dystocia. Unfortunately, C-sections carry their own risks of subsequent problems, as well as a higher price tag. It is a difficult conundrum, because the manipulations used to cope with an obstructed birth do not have a 100% success rate when it comes to avoiding damage to the nerves in the arms or other related injuries.

Getting Legal Help for Shoulder Dystocia Injuries & Its Effects

Dealing with the lifelong aftermath of shoulder dystocia is not a simple road. There will be struggles and expenses like rehabilitation, medical costs, and, sometimes, costly adaptive measures. If you or someone you know and care about is coping with any of these struggles, contact us. Our shoulder dystocia attorneys and the medical doctors who are part of our staff can discuss your unique situation with you, answer any questions you may have, and possibly help you get some much needed help.

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WHY YOU MAY BENEFIT FROM A DOCTOR IN YOUR COURTROOM

WE UNDERSTAND YOUR INJURIES, BECAUSE WE’VE LIKELY TREATED THEM.

Most of our physician-attorneys are either current or past treating doctors in, collectively, a wide range of medical specialties. There is a good chance one or more of our physician attorneys have actually treated medical conditions similar to the ones from which you or your loved one now suffers. That translates into care and understanding as your Counselors, and know-how as your Advocates.

TIME- AND COST-SAVINGS FOR YOUR CASE

Any honest medical malpractice attorney will tell you that one of the greatest expenses in a medical malpractice case is having to pay physician experts to study the details of the medical issues in your case and, if necessary, provide testimony at deposition and trial. While even our physician attorneys may also need to hire outside medical experts for your case, our medical know-how allows us to perform a significant amount of the medical analysis necessary for your case in-house which may translate into significant savings at the conclusion of your case.

RAPID RESPONSE WITH SOLID ANSWERS TO YOUR SERIOUS QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR CASE

Because we have in-house medical know-how, we can evaluate the medical questions in your case and provide answers without a lengthy wait. Our internal process involves getting the issues in your case quickly in front of the right physician attorney who, based on his or her medical experience and training, is most likely to have the answers you seek about whether you have a case and how we might help you get the compensation you deserve to help secure a brighter future for you and for your loved ones.

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Call us at (888) 695-2963