Brachial Plexus Injury

What Is a Brachial Plexus Nerve Injury?

A brachial plexus injury involves damage to the network of nerves (brachial plexus) that control muscles in the shoulder, arm, and hand.

“Injury to the brachial plexus is fairly common during birth, occurring in one to two births per 1,000.”

— Johns Hopkins Medicine

Brachial plexus injuries can occur due to stretching, compression, or tearing of the nerves, often from a difficult delivery. When a baby’s shoulders become stuck in the birth canal, medical professionals may pull on the baby’s head and cause permanent nerve damage.

Families affected by a brachial plexus injury resulting from medical malpractice may be able to take legal action to seek compensation for their child’s care and hold negligent health care providers accountable.

LawFirm.com works with lawyers who have secured over $962 million for brachial plexus injuries and other birth injuries. See if we can connect you during a free case review.

Legal Options for Brachial Plexus Injuries

Families impacted by brachial plexus injuries at birth may be able to file a malpractice lawsuit against the negligent health care providers who caused their children harm.

Reasons to file a brachial plexus birth injury lawsuit include:

• Seek compensation for your child’s medical expenses, ongoing therapy, pain and suffering, and more
• Hold the medical professionals to blame for your child’s brachial plexus injury accountable
• Prevent other infants from experiencing similar trauma

To build a strong case, a brachial plexus injury attorney will collect medical records, expert testimony, and evidence of the injury’s impact. Working with a lawyer specializing in brachial plexus injuries is recommended to navigate the legal process and secure the best results.

Brachial Plexus Birth Injury Lawsuit Settlements and Verdicts

LawFirm.com has partnered with birth injury lawyers who have secured over $962 million on behalf of families nationwide affected by brachial plexus palsy and other birth injuries.

Brachial plexus compensation and Erb’s palsy settlements secured by our legal partners include:

• $5 million to a Connecticut family impacted by a brachial plexus injury
• Over $1.5 million for a Maryland family
• $1 million to a family in New Jersey
• $1.99 million for the family of a child with brachial plexus palsy
• $975,000 in Erb’s palsy lawsuit compensation for a 6-year-old boy
• $2 million on behalf of a family in North Carolina
• $4.5 million to the family of a child with Erb’s palsy in Illinois

Brachial plexus injury compensation may vary depending on the severity of your child’s nerve damage, expected medical bills, and other factors. A birth injury attorney will fight for maximum compensation.

Causes of a Brachial Plexus Injury at Birth

A brachial plexus injury at birth typically occurs due to complications during delivery.

Labor and delivery staff who apply too much force on the baby’s head or neck during a vaginal delivery or fail to perform a necessary Cesarean section (C-section) can cause permanent damage to a vulnerable newborn.

Medical professionals are expected to uphold a high standard of care during labor and delivery and protect the health of both the mother and child. When they fail to do so, their actions may be considered medical negligence.

Brachial Plexus Birth Injury Risk Factors

Risk factors are elements that make it more likely for someone to develop a certain condition.

In the case of brachial plexus nerve damage during childbirth, these factors include:

• Breech delivery: Babies born feet or buttocks first are at higher risk.
• Large baby size (macrosomia): Infants with higher birth weights (over 8 pounds, 13 ounces) are more prone to shoulder dystocia (baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the pubic bone), increasing the risk of injury.
• Maternal diabetes: Gestational or pre-existing diabetes can result in larger babies, raising the likelihood of nerve injury during delivery.
• Prolonged labor: Difficult or lengthy labor can lead to complications that increase the risk of a brachial plexus injury.
• Use of forceps or vacuum extractors: Assisted delivery tools can cause nerve damage when not used properly.

Medical professionals are responsible for assessing any risk factors in advance and acting quickly to eliminate or reduce their impact.

Brachial Plexus Nerve Injury Symptoms

Depending on the severity of nerve damage, symptoms of a brachial plexus injury may range from mild weakness or numbness to complete loss of function in the affected limb.

Common signs of brachial plexus injuries include:

• A hand position called “the waiter’s tip,” where the palm points toward the back and the fingers curl
• Inability to crawl or sit up
• Lack of grip strength
• Numbness or tingling in the arm or hand
• Weakness or inability to move the arm, elbow, or shoulder

If your child is showing brachial plexus nerve injury symptoms, get medical attention as soon as possible.

Types of Brachial Plexus Injuries

There are several types of brachial plexus injuries, each depending on the extent and location of nerve damage. In some cases, the nerves are stretched, while in others, they may be completely torn from the spinal cord.

Common types of brachial plexus injuries include:

• Avulsion: The most severe type of brachial plexus injury that occurs when the nerve root is separated from the spinal cord and must be treated with a surgical nerve transfer
• Brachial plexus palsy: Occurs when the brachial plexus nerves are damaged and the brain is unable to send signals to the arm or hand muscles
• Erb’s palsy: Mostly affects the baby’s shoulder and upper arm
• Horner’s syndrome: Affects the nerves in the brain, face, and eye and is marked by a smaller pupil and drooping eyelid in the affected eye
• Klumpke’s palsy: Also known as Klumpke’s paralysis, this type of brachial plexus palsy is caused by injury to the nerves in the neck and shoulder
• Neuroma: A painful knot of scar tissue forms around an injured nerve, preventing it from sending signals to muscles
• Neuropraxia: A stretching of the nerves that may heal on its own without treatment, it’s the most common and mildest form of brachial plexus nerve injury
• Rupture: Occurs when the nerve itself is torn but not where it attaches to the spine, often requiring surgical treatment
• Total plexus involvement: Nerve damage impacts the baby’s arm, hand, and wrist muscles, typically resulting in a complete loss of movement in the affected limb

Treatments may vary depending on the type of brachial plexus injury involved and the severity of nerve damage. If surgery is required, treatment costs can exceed $100,000.

While treatments can be costly, financial assistance may be available when the injury is caused by medical negligence. See if one of our trusted legal partners can fight hard for everything you deserve during a free case review.

Brachial Plexus Injury Treatment

A doctor will consider the type of brachial plexus injury a child has and the severity of nerve damage when recommending treatments. In many cases, children are able to recover fully, even if they need surgery.

Treatment of a brachial plexus injury in infants may include:

• Botox injections: Can weaken stronger muscles with the goal of strengthening weaker ones
• Occupational therapy: Helps improve daily functioning and fine motor skills
• Orthopedic splints: These provide support and help maintain joint position
• Physical therapy: A physical therapist can recommend exercises to maintain the range of motion and strengthen muscles in the affected arm
• Surgery: Procedures like nerve grafts, nerve transfers, or muscle transfers may be necessary for more severe injuries, especially in cases of nerve rupture or avulsion

“Most children develop normal, or near normal, arm function without surgery. But not all children recover fully.”

– Boston Children’s Hospital

Early intervention can minimize brachial plexus injury at birth long-term effects and give children the best chance of living a life free of impairment.

Get Help From a Brachial Plexus Injury Lawyer

Many brachial plexus injuries are related to medical mistakes made during delivery. Careless health care providers who cause birth injuries should be held accountable for their actions.

If you suspect your child’s brachial plexus injury was caused by a medical error, it’s important to reach out to a birth injury attorney as soon as possible.

Our legal partners:

• Have decades of experience handling birth injury cases
• Can help families in all 50 states
• Never charge any upfront or hourly fees
• Have secured over $962 million for families affected by birth injuries

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or fill in our contact form to see if they may be able to help your family seek justice and compensation.