(845) 802-0047A birth should be an exciting time in a family’s life, and expectant parents should enter their birth center or hospital delivery room with joy and hope. You should feel confident that your trusted medical professionals will care for you correctly and help safely deliver a baby. Unfortunately, sometimes healthcare practitioners engage in negligence in deliveries that can lead to serious birth injuries, such as Klumpke’s palsy, which can cause a baby to have problems with their lower arm, hand, and wrist. Ask an Albany Klumpke’s palsy lawyer for legal advice.
Explaining the Condition of Klumpke’s Palsy
Klumpke’s palsy is a medical condition resulting from damage to the nerves in the brachial plexus, which is the group of nerves that runs from a person’s spine to the side of the neck, down to their arm. The brachial plexus sends nerve signals from the brain through that portion of the spine to the arm, hand, and shoulder. When a person suffers damage to the lower arm, hand, and wrist, they can develop Klumpke’s palsy. Another brachial plexus injury, Erb’s palsy, occurs when the nerves controlling the upper arm suffer damage.
Babies suffering from Klumpke’s palsy can exhibit different symptoms that involve tingling, pain, numbness, weakness, and even paralysis in the affected area of the lower arm. Because babies cannot speak to explain what they are feeling, their caretakers and doctors need to look for signs of irritation, such as the following symptoms:
- The baby’s arm hanging limply
- The baby’s palm facing up or out with a bent elbow
- A tight hand and a limp arm
- Weakened muscles
- Stiff hand, arm, and wrist
The symptoms vary for each child, and some children experience relatively mild cases, which heal with physical therapy. Others require surgery to repair nerve damage. Unfortunately, some children with this condition experience severe, permanent disabilities, such as paralysis of the arm, that can interfere with the child’s overall quality of life.
If a family suspects their child has developed Klumpke’s palsy, they should seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Prompt treatment and continued therapy give a child the best chance of a successful recovery. The family should also consider consulting with a Klumpke’s palsy lawyer in Albany to determine if they have a viable legal case against the medical workers who delivered the baby.
Frequent Causes of Klumpke’s Palsy
Some older children and adults develop Klumpke’s palsy from motor vehicle crashes and other accidents, or from tumors that impinge on their nerves. This condition also occurs frequently in children due to birth injuries, when obstetricians, midwives, nurses, and other healthcare professionals involved in the delivery of a baby make a negligent or reckless mistake.
For instance, when a baby is too large, a doctor might need to use tools, such as a vacuum extractor or forceps, to deliver the baby through the birth canal. If they misuse the tools or use too much force in pulling the baby out, they could damage the baby’s shoulder.
A lawyer in Albany could investigate to see if the patient’s medical team acted inappropriately and caused Klumpke’s palsy. They could review the patient’s medical charts and check with medical experts to see if the doctors should have acted differently, such as by ordering a C-section sooner.
Talk to an Albany Klumpke’s Palsy Attorney to Discuss a Potential Lawsuit
If your infant shows signs of a hand injury, they might have developed Klumpke’s palsy at birth. If so, your child will need expert medical care that could get costly. It is in your best interest to meet with an experienced Albany Klumpke’s palsy lawyer to see if medical negligence could have played a role in your child’s injury.
A dedicated legal team could help you take action against a negligent healthcare provider by holding the responsible parties accountable. Talk to our legal team today.