Health Law

Brachial Plexus Injury Awareness Week

The United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc. (UBPN) and its Awareness Committee have announced that the 9th annual Brachial Plexus Injury Awareness Week will be celebrated from October 19th through October 26th, 2008.  The goal of the week long activity is to increase general awareness regarding brachial plexus injuries: traumatic injuries that can result in full to partial paralysis of one or both arms.

The brachial plexus is an arrangement of nerve fibres, running from the spine proceeding through the neck, the axilla (armpit region) and into the arm.  Injury to these nerves can result in a paralysis of the arm called Erb's Palsy which is almost always caused during birth. 

The most common cause of Erb's Palsy is dystocia which is an abnormal or difficult childbirth or labor.  The nerve injury  happens when too much force is used in the delivery trying to free a baby that is stuck in the birth canal.   When the baby's shoulder gets stuck behind the mother's pubic bone it is called shoulder dystocia.  However, there are several maneuvers and techniques that can be safely used to free the baby's shoulder thus avoiding damage to the brachial plexus nerves.

If the delivery is not handled correctly, the resulting nerve damage may result in varying degrees of weakness or paralysis of the shoulder, arm and hand.  The amount of paralysis will depend on which nerves in the plexus( network ) are injured.  In some cases the resulting paralysis could be permanent and in others the weakness or paralysis may be minor enough to resolve itself over time. 

This is where we see malpractice cases arise. It is often when communication in the delivery room breaks down, warning signs are missed or people aren't familiar enough with the maneuvers.
 

Full post as published by Cerebral Palsy Law Blog on September 26, 2008 (boomark / email).