The Most Common Cause of Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries are…

The most common cause of brachial plexus birth injuries are… from medical malpractice!  Yes, of course.  Why is this?  Because a reasonably prudent physician who properly evaluates the mother and developing baby should know whether there are risks for a brachial plexus injuries.  Or more generally whether the delivery will be risker and could cause a brachial plexus injury.

The brachial plexus is a series of nerves that originate from the cervical spine and extend through the shoulder, down the arm, through the elbow joint and disperses into the hand and fingers.  They are fragile in any person, in that pulling, yanking, or stretching could cause nerve pain or injuries.  But in a newborn baby these nerves are very susceptible to pulling, yanking, stretching, or damage.

When the brachial plexus nerves of a newborn are pulled from the cervical spine, the damage is likely debilitating and possibly permanent.  It can effect sensation or motor movement in the baby’s arm.  This can become devastating for a newborn, young child, and as the individual becomes an adult.

But brachial plexus birth injuries should be avoidable.  WHY?

1. A brachial plexus injury can be avoided be determining the baby will need to come by a c-section. If the baby does not fit in the birth canal or is in improper position which could get him or her stuck, a c-section will alleviate that.  If a physician tries a natural birth and pulls the baby to get out or reposition, that is when these types of brachial plexus injuries occur
2. If there is an emergency that the baby needs to be delivered now, better planning could determine that likelihood of the emergency and again avoid it with a c-section.
3. Proper technique in extracting a baby is also important, and proper care could avoid a baby from being pulled, yanked, or dragged out in an aggressive way which could cause a brachial plexus injury.

Brachial plexus birth injuries should simply not happen to newborns if the healthcare providers do their job properly, which includes not only reactively treated by proactively evaluating and planning the birth.

But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.