Brachial Plexus

Kenneth M. Levine & Associates

Brachial Plexus Palsy

Brachial Plexus Palsy occurs when the brachial plexus, a network of nerves emerging from the spinal cord, is damaged. Since the brachial plexus conducts signals from the spine, through the neck, across the shoulders, along the arms, into the hand and ultimately, to the fingers tips, when it is damaged a limp arm can result.

Brachial Plexus Injury in Children
  Most often brachial plexus injuries occur during birth when excessive lateral traction is applied to the fetal neck region. In cases of brachial plexus palsy the upper part of the brachial plexus is involved. Brachial plexus injuries overwhelmingly result from traumatic stretching of the plexus during birth. Many babies with brachial plexus injuries are larger than average at birth, though any newborn can have this birth injury. Size alone does not determine if a baby will be born with a brachial plexus palsy since newborns of any size can have these injures. About 1 or 2 babies out of every one thousand deliveries suffer a brachial plexus injuries at birth.

Signs a Doctor Should Look For To Indicate That A Baby May Be Too Large For Natural Delivery:
1. Obesity: If the mother is obese, chances are she may deliver a large baby.
2. Gestational diabetes: A doctor should always test the fetus for this type of diabetes. Larger babies are often associated with gestational diabetes.
3. The McDonald measurement or fundal height: A physician records the measurements from the top of the uterus to the top of the pubis during prenatal visits. If measurements are too big, the doctor should be able to observe the size of the baby.
4. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy: If a mother is 30 years of age or older and she gains a lot of weight during her pregnancy, there is a chance she will deliver a big baby.
5. Maternal history: If the last baby that a mother delivered was large in size, there is a good probability that her next infant will be large also.

If a doctor believes that the baby about to be delivered may be large, he or she should use an ultrasound to confirm this observation. If the doctor does not use the correct method for delivery, he or she may be liable for malpractice.
Correct Delivery Techniques for a Large Baby May Include:
• Caesarean section.
• Suprapubic pressure.
• McRoberts maneuver.
• Wood's corkscrew maneuver.

To prove a claim for compensation, expert witnesses will be required including an OB-Gyn doctor, plus the costs of video depositions, medical and radiology reports and graphic technologists. Medical and rehabilitation care for the Brachial Plexus injured child may continue throughout the child's life. We have successfully litigated birth related Brachial Plexus and Erb's Palsy cases and received the necessary compensation for these children and their families.

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