Brainpalsy.com - Helping Parents Combat Cerebral Palsy

Experts estimate that 3-5 babies in 1,000 are injured during labor and delivery. Injuries range dramatically, from temporary problems that can be resolved during a short hospital stay to long-term medical conditions such as Cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy and others. Medical providers are trained to recognize the risk factors and warning signs for harm during labor and delivery - but when those signs aren’t noticed quickly enough, serious damage can occur.

The Connecticut Cerebral Palsy lawyers at Haymond Law have seen multiple cases of cerebral palsy and other devastating birth injuries caused by medical negligence. As a result of their extensive experience working with families, the firm has compiled the following summary of common birth injuries, risk factors and warning signs of an injury caused by medical negligence.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a condition in which brain damage affects body movement and muscle coordination. There are three types of cerebral palsy: spastic, athetoid, and ataxic. Spastic cerebral palsy causes a severe stiffening of different muscles within the body. Athetoid cerebral palsy causes an inability to control muscles. Ataxic cerebral palsy causes problems with balance and coordination.

Erb’s Palsy

Erb’s palsy refers specifically to injuries that involve the upper brachial plexus, or the muscles of the shoulder and elbow. Improper use of forceps or vacuum to resolve a situation of shoulder dystocia are common factors in Erb’s palsy injuries.

Kumpke’s Palsy

Klumpke’s palsy, also known as Dejerine-Klumpke palsy, refers specifically to injuries that involve the muscles of the forearm and hand - often causing paralysis of forearm, wrist, hand and fingers. In some cases, other symptoms known as Horner’s sign may accompany the impaired arm/hand functions, including eyelid drooping and pupil dilation in one eye.

The Dangers of Shoulder Dystocia

Many of these injuries occur as a result of shoulder dystocia during delivery. Shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby’s shoulders are too large for the birth canal and become stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone. Without assistance, the baby can suffer brain damage or even death. Because shoulder dystocia is such a serious complication, there are very specific procedures to try and extricate a baby whose shoulders cannot emerge unaided. However, when physicians aren’t sufficiently trained in how to perform these procedures, traumatic injuries such as those outlined above are the results.

There are multiple factors that raise the risk for shoulder dystocia, including:

1. Diabetes in mother

2. Obesity in mother

3. Baby is more than 41 weeks old at delivery

4. Mother has small pelvis

5. Mother’s height is short

6. Baby has higher than normal birth weight

7. Mother has previously delivered large baby or experienced shoulder dystocia during previous deliveries

Signs of Medical Negligence

While some birth injuries are unpreventable, medical professionals are trained to recognize key warning signs and follow specific procedures to avoid harm during delivery. Medical negligence may have played a role in a child’s traumatic injuries under the following circumstances:

1. Doctor failed to obtain a thorough obstetrical history of the mother, including any previous history of diabetes, large babies, or difficult deliveries

2. Doctor failed to check for gestational diabetes during pregnancy

3. Doctor did not warn mother of excessive weight gain during pregnancy

4. Doctor did not evaluate fetal size by ultrasound during the third trimester

5. Doctor did not address late delivery date

6. Doctor did not assign or request qualified medical staff to help manage delivery

7. Doctor did not properly inform mother about need for caesarean section amid various delivery risks

8. Doctor did not manage shoulder dystocia appropriately, including improper use of pressure on the abdomen (fundal pressure), forceps or vacuum extractor or excessive force on the head or neck during delivery

Legal action cannot heal a child’s injury, but financial compensation can help ensure the best medical treatment and hold negligent parties responsible. Families affected by birth injuries in Connecticut should contact an experienced Connecticut Cerebral Palsy lawyer for more information.

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of this disability that affects nearly 80 percent of patients. It differs from other types of cerebral palsy in that it affects muscles and joints. There is muscle stiffness and spasticity as well as limited joint movement.

How This Form is Categorized

This form is categorized by the areas of the body that they affect. Affecting both the legs and the arms is a type called Diplegia. One limb is affected in Monoplegia, a rare form of spastic cerebral palsy. Another type affects only one side of the body, Hemiplegia. A type that affects the movement of three limbs is Triplegia and Quadriplegia affects all four limbs.

Diagnosing This Disability

It is difficult to diagnose cerebral palsy especially during early infancy. However, tests can be run right after birth such as CT scans, MRIs, and EEGs. Your child should be seen by a doctor if your child is experiencing developmental delays or abnormal muscle tone.

Treatment Options

There are no cures for this disorder however there are treatments your that may help manage spasticity and support a higher quality of life for the child. Therapy is give to children with the related symptoms include occupational therapy that helps with fine motor skills such as eating. Then there is physical therapy that focuses on gross motor skills focusing on muscle strength. Children can also go through surgeries, and they can wear braces and casts.

Does Your Child Have Spastic Cerebral Palsy?

The reasons for cerebral palsy are often unknown but are present at birth. Parents are entitled to know why or how this happened. There are risk factors including lack of oxygen, infections to the mother or her baby, preterm delivery and other delivery complications. It is important that the delivery goes safely. The medical staff is responsible for the mother and child, making sure they are alright. Nonetheless there are cases where medical malpractice takes place and families need to know what they can do if this happens. Families can be compensated for damages that occurred during labor and delivery.

Contact a Lawyer Today

Families need to contact a lawyer immediately if you feel like there may have been medical malpractice involved. There is time limit in cases like these so do not wait to call. Lawyers know your rights and they can get the compensation you need for the care of your child.

Thanks to many aggressive advocates of the cerebral palsy community, the number of cerebral palsy resources available to parents continues to grow. For parents who suspect their newborn or young child may have the disease, organizations like the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the March of Dimes, or United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) give helpful information about symptoms, prognosis, and questions parents should ask their doctor.

These and other resources help provide respite or child care for parents that are overburdened, or adult day care programs for dependent adult children. Some of them even provide fun opportunities for cerebral palsy sufferers and their families to go camping, have a dance, or participate in other recreational activities within a supportive environment. Most libraries or bookstores have books which provide further information, from the personal stories of cerebral palsy victims and their caregivers to medical journals on the subject.

Local support groups for families with an individual suffering from cerebral palsy regularly get together for support and information sharing about local resources and new treatments available. For higher-functioning cerebral palsy sufferers, organizations like the March of Dimes or Goodwill have job training and employment services to help individuals who suffer from cerebral palsy and other disabilities find work.

Online Cerebral Palsy Resources Shouldn’t be Overlooked




Especially for families that don’t live in or near a major metropolitan area,

online cerebral palsy resources can help fill the gap. Instead of attending a local

support group at a church or public meeting place, a mother or father looking to

talk to other parents can find numerous blogs, chat rooms, and mailing lists to

help when they can’t get together with others in person, but still want to take

advantage of cerebral palsy resources. For individuals afflicted with the

disease, who may be unable to leave their homes or otherwise be mobile, online

cerebral palsy resources can be a godsend, allowing them to talk with others who

accept them and even share in the difficulties of having this disease.