Brachial Plexus Injury

A brachial plexus injury refers to damage affecting the network of nerves that controls sensation in the upper spine, shoulder(s), arm(s) and hand(s). Brachial plexus injuries can affect one or both sides of the body and, in the worst cases, result in completely severed nerves and paralysis.

While brachial plexus injuries may be caused by a variety of factors, including sports injuries and car accidents, in many instances, birth injuries and medical mistakes are responsible for causing brachial plexus injury.

Should an infant be diagnosed with brachial plexus injury, it's essential that parents not only follow through with all necessary medical care to give their injured newborns the best chances of recovery, but also contact the affiliated birth injury lawyers of Litigators Incorporated for legal help.

We will schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our affiliated birth injury lawyers and their team of medical experts who will evaluate the circumstances of your case to determine the exact cause of injury. If medical mistakes contributed to your infant’s brachial plexus injury, our affiliated attorneys will help you recover compensation from the responsible parties.

Symptoms of Brachial Plexus Injury

The precise symptoms of a brachial plexus injury will depend on:

• the exact location of the injury
• the severity of the injury
• an individual's medical history (i.e. whether he has other conditions that exacerbate the upper spine, arms and/or hands)

Less serious brachial plexus injuries occur when the brachial plexus nerves are stretched. Generally, symptoms will last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days and will include stingers or burners, which cause:

• a sensation of shooting burning or electric shock down the arm
• numbness in the arm
• weakness of the arm

When more serious brachial plexus injury occurs, symptoms typically include:

• an inability to control the shoulder and elbow muscles, despite the ability to use the fingers
• an inability to use the fingers, despite the ability to control the arms
• total inability to control or experience sensation in the arm(s)
• severe pain

Brachial Plexus Injury versus Erb's Palsy

Erb's palsy is a specific type of brachial plexus injury that results from damage to the C5 to C7 spinal roots, the main groups of nerves controlling the upper arms. In most cases, Erb's palsy is caused by birth injury that occurs as a result of labor complications.

Medical Mistakes & Brachial Plexus Injury

Brachial plexus injuries occur during the birthing process when breech births, prolonged labors or other delivery complications cause a newborn's shoulders to get stuck in the birth canal.

In such instances, it's increasingly likely that doctors and nurses will make medical mistakes, such as using excessive force to free the infant, that can cause or intensify a case of brachial plexus injury.

Consulting an Affiliated Birth Injury Lawyer

For more information and resources about birth injuries such as brachial plexus injuries, contact Litigators Incorporated today. Our affiliated attorneys have successfully helped thousands of parents recover compensation for their infants’ injuries and are standing by to help you. They work closely with a team of qualified doctors and nurses who will investigate your child’s birth to determine the cause of injury and help them fight on your behalf.

Don’t wait any longer, contact Litigators Incorporated for help today, toll free (866) 251-0808. All initial consultations are free of charge and our affiliated lawyers do not accept payments until a settlement or court award is reached.