Klumpke paralysis occurs when the eighth cervical (C8) and first thoracic (T1) nerves are stretched, torn, or damaged. The most common cause is a traumatic delivery involving shoulder dystocia, where the baby’s shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone during birth. If the infant’s arm is pulled or extended above the head in this situation, nerve damage can result.
Answer:
Klumpke paralysis (also called Klumpke’s palsy) is a type of brachial plexus injury that affects the nerves controlling movement and sensation in the arm and hand. It is named after Augusta Déjerine-Klumpke, one of the first notable female physicians in neurology. This condition is often associated with birth injuries.
Symptoms of Klumpke’s palsy may include:
Weakness or paralysis of the hand and wrist
Claw hand deformity
Numbness or loss of sensation in the arm or hand
Difficulty with motor function
Ptosis (drooping of the eyelid)
While some cases cannot be prevented, others may be linked to medical negligence, such as failing to manage shoulder dystocia safely or using excessive force during delivery. Families affected by Klumpke paralysis may benefit from speaking with a Dallas birth injury lawyer to determine whether the injury could have been prevented and whether compensation may be available.
Need legal guidance? Call the Dallas birth injury attorneys at Rasansky | McKenzie Law at (214) 651-6100 for a free consultation.
Klumpke paralysis (also called Klumpke’s palsy) is a type of brachial plexus injury that affects the nerves controlling movement and sensation in the arm and hand. It is named after Augusta Déjerine-Klumpke, one of the first notable female physicians in neurology. This condition is often associated with birth injuries.
Klumpke paralysis occurs when the eighth cervical (C8) and first thoracic (T1) nerves are stretched, torn, or damaged. The most common cause is a traumatic delivery involving shoulder dystocia, where the baby’s shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone during birth. If the infant’s arm is pulled or extended above the head in this situation, nerve damage can result.
Symptoms of Klumpke’s palsy may include:
Weakness or paralysis of the hand and wrist
Claw hand deformity
Numbness or loss of sensation in the arm or hand
Difficulty with motor function
Ptosis (drooping of the eyelid)
While some cases cannot be prevented, others may be linked to medical negligence, such as failing to manage shoulder dystocia safely or using excessive force during delivery. Families affected by Klumpke paralysis may benefit from speaking with a Dallas birth injury lawyer to determine whether the injury could have been prevented and whether compensation may be available.
Need legal guidance? Call the Dallas birth injury attorneys at Rasansky | McKenzie Law at (214) 651-6100 for a free consultation.
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