Common Birth Injuries: Cerebral Palsy, Erb's Palsy, and Improper Delivery
The birth of a child is a joyous occasion for a family, but that joy can turn into a life-long struggle when an infant is injured during birth.The birth injury attorneys at patientinjury.com can help you get the compensation you need to care for an injured child. Cerebral Palsy Cerebral palsy is a devastating injury caused by lack of oxygen to the infant's brain during birth. Symptoms vary in severity, but are usually permanent, resulting in a lifetime of medical bills for medication, physical therapy and medical equipment. Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy The symptoms of cerebral palsy are not obvious immediately after birth, and many infants are not diagnosed right away. Symptoms include delayed milestones, retention of infantile reflexes (which usually fades within three to six months), and developing handedness before the age of 18 months, indicating that one side of the body is significantly weaker than the other. Medical Complications Related to Cerebral Palsy Problems associated with cerebral palsy include:
- Stiff and spastic muscles
- Skeletal deformities
- Mental retardation (in some cases)
- Seizures
- Speech problems
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hearing and vision loss
- Bowel or bladder incontinence
Erb's Palsy Erb's palsy is a birth injury that sometimes occurs during difficult deliveries. It is caused by nerve damage to the brachial plexus, a network of nerves that conducts signals from the spinal cord to the hands and arms. An infant with Erb's palsy may have one arm and hand that is paralyzed because of this nerve injury. It is possible to successfully treat Erb's palsy, and your child may regain normal use of his or her hands and fingers, but successful treatment requires extensive physical therapy, which is expensive and time-consuming. Improper Delivery Improper delivery can include:
- Refusing to perform a cesarean section when necessary
- Waiting too long to perform a cesarean
- Misuse of instruments such as forceps or suction cups
Contact Our Birth Injury Attorneys in Salt Lake City If your infant has been injured during delivery, contact the attorneys of patientinjury.com to speak with the birth injury lawyers and medical malpractice attorneys at our Utah office in Salt Lake City.