October 16 – 22 was awareness week for a birth injury that most people are unaware of: brachial plexus. With Breast Cancer Awareness Month going on at the same time, brachial plexus continues to get little recognition, which is unfortunate, because it is a tragic and preventable condition.
Brachial plexus injuries in infants are a result of shoulder trauma. The trauma usually occurs when the infant becomes stuck in the birth canal and is forcibly removed. The injury results in the child’s arm hanging limply at his or her side. Sometimes the condition can be helped through physical therapy or surgery, but often it results in lifelong impairment.
The goal of Brachial Plexus Awareness Week is expressed in its name: awareness. Mothers-to-be need to be aware of the possibility of this birth injury, and they should discuss with their doctors what routine procedures they will use to avoid it. Procedures like cesarean sections, though not the first choice of many, are an option when the risk is high.
Does your child suffer from a brachial plexus injury? If you feel it was caused by medical negligence, you do have legal options. Fill out our contact form so we can help you answer some of your legal questions.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – birth trauma lawyers
