Cerebral Palsy Law Blog : Cerebral Palsy Lawyer & Attorney : Burke & Eisner Law Firm : Medical Malpractice Lawyers & Attorneys

Palsy is a term that generally refers to paralysis of some sort. There are several different types of palsy, two of which are sometimes caused by medical malpractice. These two types of palsy are cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy.

What is cerebral palsy? Thousands of babies are born each year with cerebral palsy, which is actually not a single condition but rather a group of disorders that affect muscle movement and coordination. The precise diagnosis depends on the areas of the body that are affected and how they are affected, but the different types of cerebral palsy include:

• Spastic
• Athetoid
• Ataxic
• Mixed

Cerebral palsy is sometimes accompanied by seizures, mental retardation, vision problems and other health issues. Though it is not a progressive condition (meaning it does not worsen over time), cerebral palsy does not have a cure. Consequently, doctors primarily aim to manage the symptoms with physical therapy, orthopedic devices, occupational therapy and other innovative treatments.

What is Erb’s palsy? Erb’s palsy is a type of injury to the brachial plexus, which is a group of nerves that run from the neck down the arm and into the hand. Brachial plexus injuries often occur during difficult deliveries – for instance, when an infant’s shoulders have to be forced out of the birth canal. In such cases, a nerve in the brachial plexus can be stretched or torn and this may result in paralysis of the upper arm, both the upper and lower arm, or the hand.

Brachial plexus injuries like Erb’s palsy sometimes heal on their own. However, in severe cases, surgery is required for a full recovery. In other cases, the damage may be permanent.

It’s best to seek the expert advice of a medical malpractice attorney if you think negligence caused your child to develop Erb’s or cerebral palsy after birth. A medical lawyer can determine whether you’re eligible for compensation.





 

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Shoulder dystocia refers to a medical complication that occurs when the baby’s shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone during delivery. When not handled properly, shoulder dystocia can result in serious injuries such as brachial plexus palsy, bone fractures and lacerations, among other things.

While there are a number of risk factors for shoulder dystocia (e.g. maternal diabetes, large birth weight baby, small pelvic bones), the complication can and often does occur without warning. However, a Canadian doctor had developed software that can predict the probability of this complication in women who have reached 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Called the CALM Shoulder Screen, the software system considers such factors as the mother’s height and weight to calculate the risk of shoulder dystocia. Though relatively new, CALM is already being used by obstetricians across the country.

If you’re concerned about your pregnancy, you may want to consider asking your doctor about the risk of complications during delivery and what emergency plans are in place to handle any problems that arise. Some, though not all, birth injuries are preventable with proper planning and care.


 

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Not necessarily — a recent review of medical literature suggests that some infants born with an obstetrical brachial plexus injury (OBPI) fall in a “gray zone,” where it’s not clear whether surgery is beneficial. According to the researchers, approximately half of children they evaluated who fell within this gray zone fully recovered without surgery.
 

The study authors developed guidelines for surgical intervention for children in the so-called gray zone. “The guideline presented in this paper provides another framework for decision-making that includes other areas in addition to biceps recovery or elbow function,” the researchers concluded.
 

In particular, the guidelines take into consideration shoulder abduction and wrist extension scores based on the Active Movement Scale.
 

The study is published in the current issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics and was conducted researchers at the McMaster Children’s Hospital in Ontario, Canada.


 

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Does your child’s school have adequate information regarding his/her brachial plexus injury?  Do the teachers and administrators know which arm is affected, what activities your child should avoid and what activities he/she might need help with?

To help parents provide their child’s school with the information they need, the Brachial Plexus Palsy Foundation has created a form which parents can fill out and give to teachers, nurses, therapists and anyone else involved in the child’s daily life. 

Because each child’s injury is unique, the form has been created so that parents need only check what applies to their particular child. The information sheet also comes with a glossary of terms, which can help others to better understand brachial plexus palsy injuries.
  
Check out the form here.


 

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The increased hormones during pregnancy cause about half of all pregnant women to develop a gum disease called “pregnancy gingivitis,” according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Studies show that severe gum disease (periodontal disease) increases a woman’s risk of preterm delivery, and premature birth is a risk factor for cerebral palsy and a host of other health problems.

Another Risk: Brachial Plexus Injuries

Additional research has linked gum disease in pregnant women to the onset of gestational diabetes, which can cause a condition known as macrosomia, or big baby syndrome. Babies with macrosomia are at risk for suffering brachial plexus injuries (including Erb’s palsy) during birth because of their large size.

Preventing Gum Disease

To prevent gum disease during pregnancy, women should be sure to:

* Brush and floss daily remove plaque build up
* Have professional cleanings at three month intervals a
* Rinse after a bout of morning sickness

Visit the AAP website at www.perio.org/consumer/pregnancy.htm for more information on gum disease and pregnancy.

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