Long-Term Birth Injury Complications
Birth injuries are not uncommon; given time, most heal without too many problems. However, some birth injuries are so serious that they cause serious or long-term issues for the baby and can lead to a lifetime of complications and medical care.
The challenge with birth injuries is that it can be difficult to predict the long-term outcome for affected children. While children are remarkably resilient, some damage is difficult or impossible to recover from.
Here are several examples of birth injuries that can lead to problems for the affected child:
- Cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a medical disorder resulting in muscle control and movement problems. There are several different types of cerebral palsy (for example, spastic diplegia, ataxic and athetoid cerebral palsy), and not all are caused by medical negligence. However, a doctor’s mistake during the birth process can cause cerebral palsy, leaving a child with lifelong medical challenges.
- Brachial palsy occurs when the nerves supplying the arms and hands (brachial plexus) are injured. Forms of brachial palsy include Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy. Problems during delivery—especially shoulder dystocia—can lead to a loss of movement, and damaged or torn nerves can necessitate surgery and rehabilitation.
- Facial paralysis. Misuse of forceps or other tools used during birth can damage the nerves in a baby’s face. Some paralysis is only temporary; however, if a nerve was seriously damaged or torn, surgery may be needed, and long-term consequences may be suffered.
- Fractures. Sometimes a baby’s bones are broken during a traumatic birth, and the doctor or nurse may be negligent if the injury could have been avoided with proper care. Clavicle and collarbone fractures are the most common; however, any bone can be broken if the proper care is not exercised during delivery.
- Bleeding in the brain. Also known as intracranial hemorrhage, bleeding in the brain happens when a blood vessel ruptures inside a baby’s skull. Problems or lack of oxygen during delivery can cause the brain to bleed, and symptoms and prognosis will depend on the location and severity of the bleed. Seizures, lethargy, poor feeding, and developmental issues can result.
There are a variety of other ways that babies can be injured by medical negligence before, during, or after birth. If you suspect that your child or the child of someone you know was hurt because of a medical mistake, then please don’t hesitate to push for justice. The attorneys at the Dallas office of The Rasansky | McKenzie Law accept birth injury, brain-damaged baby, and cerebral palsy cases from Texas, Oklahoma, and all across the United States. Call the Rasansky | McKenzie Law today and speak with one of our highly trained Dallas birth injury attorneys.