Most people understand that while giving birth to a child is an extraordinary day that’s filled with immense hope, there is much that can go wrong given the extreme vulnerability of the infant being delivered. Unfortunately, the years have produced many different types of birth injuries that can be suffered by a child as he or she is in the process of being born. To make matters worse, many of these birth injuries are the result of mistakes that were made by the medical professionals who were supposed to minimize the chance that harm could be inflicted during this vulnerable time.
Below you will find a brief overview of one of these types of birth injuries that can occur which is known as Klumpke’s Palsy. You will find information regarding how it can occur, the symptoms that are involved with it and the challenges that a child who has it will face as he or she gets older. Anyone whose child was injured while in the process of being born needs to obtain the help of New York medical malpractice lawyers as soon as possible.
Klumpke’s Palsy – A Brief Introduction
Klumpke’s Palsy was diagnosed for the first time in 1885 by Dr. Augusta Dejerine-Klumpke. This condition is relatively rare, and it is the result of a brachial plexus injury that is inflicted while the child is being born. Basically, a child who suffers from Klumpke’s Palsy will endure ongoing weakness in the hand and the wrist of the affected limb. This weakness will often lead to the development of what is commonly known as ‘claw hand’ that is exactly how it sounds.
Some of the more extreme cases of Klumpke’s Palsy will involve paralysis. As such, the severity of the injury will give rise to the type and the intensity of the treatment that will be performed. Fortunately, most of these cases can lead to a positive result. Some children will heal on their own over a few months, while others will improve with physical therapy over time. The worst cases can require intricate and invasive nerve surgery that can take up to 18 months or longer to recover from, and at that point more therapy is often required.
Klumpke’s Palsy and Medical Negligence
Unfortunately, many diagnoses of Klumpke’s Palsy are the result of negligence on the part of the medical professionals who were overseeing these births. If a child has undergone a difficult birth and/or a difficult trip through the birth canal that could have been avoided, his or her brachial plexus can be harmed such that it leads to the nerve damage that causes this condition.
If your child has been diagnosed with Klumpke’s Palsy and you believe it was because of mistakes made by medical professionals, you need to seek the help of New York medical malpractice lawyers who have been fighting for the rights of families for more than 40 years. Contact The Fitzgerald Law Firm today to schedule a free initial consultation.