Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries and Common Causes: What Your Tennessee Medical Malpractice Attorney Wants to Tell You

There are many different types of medical malpractice and many different causes of medical malpractice.  Some instances are rather simple, such as pulling the wrong tooth or operating on the wrong patient.  Other instances are significantly more difficult, such as the standard of care in an open heart operation that is removing a dangerous brain tumor on a young adult.  It is imperative you always contact your Tennessee medical malpractice attorney to review your case to determine whether or not there is a possible cause of action.

One type of case that is particularly difficult to assess is a birth injury case.  While there are many types of birth injuries, such as cerebral palsy cases, burns, scarring, and many others, brachial plexus birth injuries can be some of the most difficult to determine if mistakes were made.  This is because these types of injuries may not always come about by the simple acts of a doctor or medical team but, rather, these types of injuries might be the result of an emergency situation or an unfortunate birthing complication.

The brachial plexus is the medical name for a set of nerves originating in your neck vertebra which extend outwards through the top of your shoulders, into your shoulder girdle, and down your arm before finally splitting into smaller branches in your elbow which extend all the way down to your finger tips.  This is an incredibly complex network of nerves that really looks like an interstate highway system which transfers nerve signals from your spine to your fingertips and vice-versa.  If these nerves become injured or torn, there can be a great range of complications—even permanent complications—ranging from mere stinging or some burning, to pulsing pain and sensitivity, to an absolute inability to parts of your arm such as your fingers.

While an individual could injury his or her brachial plexus in a myriad of different circumstances, such as in sports or car accidents, one very common cause is during the birthing process.  As experienced Tennessee birth injury attorneys, we have learned the significant and complex anatomy of the brachial plexus nerves to best serve our clients.  As Tennessee medical malpractice attorneys, you need to know the medicine better than the doctor you are litigating a case against to protect your interest.  Thus, we would like to share some more medical information regarding brachial plexus injury classifications.

There are four main classifications of brachial plexus injuries that you need to be aware of.  Each is caused by different applications of force and could be indicators of medical malpractice.

The mildest type of injury is called a neuropraxia injury.  This is where the myelin, or the jelly-like covering of the nerves, becomes damaged.  This results in the possibility of nerve messages getting mixed up or crossed up.  Generally this is caused by light stretching, as opposing to a forceful tug or tearing.  These will generally heal by themselves over time as the myelin rebuilds.

The next most severe is neuroma injuries.  This is again the result of some stretching and pulling, however there is a slight tear in the nerve or some other localized injury.  As a result, scar tissue of inflammation puts pressure on that nerve creating pain and discomfort.  Again, this type of injury normally abates by itself, however, surgical intervention is possible for instances of significant scar tissue.

Ruptures are the second most serious brachial plexus injury.  This occurs when the nerves are torn but not separated from each other.  These can affect both sensitivity and motor functions of the nerves, and does not always heal.  The healing process can take a significant period of time, years, and frequent setbacks are common.  Ruptures are very serious injuries and it is good practice to speak with a Tennessee birth injury attorney if your child has one.

The most severe type of injury is called an avulsion injury.  These injuries never repair because the nerve is completely torn from and separated from the spinal cord.  The total sensitivity and motor function of that nerve will be completely lost and it is near impossible—if not impossible—for surgical intervention to repair the damage.  Like ruptures, these types of injuries do not typically occur and medical malpractice may be an issue.

Brachial plexus birth injuries occur in the birthing process itself.  Commonly this is where the medical staff has failed to adequately perform sonograms and either pre-natal and labor and delivery assessments of the mother.  If a baby is too large for the birth canal, or a fetal monitoring alarm goes off due to stress of the child, there may be the need to quickly pull the child out of the womb.  If the medical staff’s only opportunity is to pull the child via the arm, this is where brachial plexus injuries can occur.

Many times adequate screening can avoid this circumstance.  However, there are instances where the medical staff did perform everything correctly.  But anytime a brachial plexus injury occurs, a birth injury attorney should be contacted to investigate your rights.

Here at Bailey and Greer, PLLC our Tennessee birth injury attorneys understand how to effectively pursue your claims.  Our legal team has a proven track record of compassionately representing our clients injured in Tennessee personal injury cases which is included in our testimonials page and our successful case results.  Please contact us today to receive your free case evaluation by dialing 901-680-9777.