Brachial Plexus Injury

Summary

This article discusses brachial plexus injuries at birth. It discusses what a brachial injury is and what kinds of treatments are out there for the baby. It also lists the types of brachial injuries that can occur.

Brachial Plexus Injury

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, brachial plexus is a type of injury that damages the nerves that conducts signals from the spine to the arm, shoulder and hand. When this type of injury occurs in infants it is because of having the baby's arm stretched when it is coming out of the birth canal. Depending on the severity, it can take months or years for the baby to fully recover the damage done to their nerves. Brachial plexus can occur in a variety of ways during the process but is mostly caused by medical negligence. In the Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale and Phoenix area, hundreds of babies have been victimized by brachial plexus. If you suspect that your child's brachial plexus injury was the cause of another person's negligence, then contacting an Arizona personal injury attorney is your best option for compensation.

While minor brachial plexus injuries can get better on their own, it is possible that this type of injury will need major surgical repair. There are various types of treatments for brachial plexus, some examples include:

Brachial Plexus Treatment

• Nerve graft - a surgery in which the damaged part of the brachial plexus is replaced with sections of nerves from other parts of your body.
• Nerve transfer - In the case that the nerve root has been damaged and it is no longer attached to the spinal cord, surgeons will take a less important nerve from the spinal cord and hook it into the nerve that is no longer attached.
• Pain medications - since the pain of brachial plexus varies, doctors will often prescribe various types of medication for your baby so they do not suffer.

Unfortunately children who are born with brachial plexus sometimes do not improve with treatment and are left without function in their hand and arm. This can be devastating to a parent, and can be emotionally and physically draining for a child.

There are many different types of brachial plexus injuries. Some examples include:

Types of brachial plexus injuries

• Rupture Brachial Plexus Injury - the nerve is torn but not at the spine.
• Neuropraxia Brachial Plexus Injury - most common type of brachial plexus injuries, the nerve is damaged but not torn.
• Avulsion Brachial Plexus Injury - the most serve type of brachial plexus injuries where the nerve is torn from the spine.
• Neuroma Brachial Plexus Injury - The nerve is partially healed with scarred tissue damage.

Contact an Arizona Personal Injury attorney

When your newborn baby is injured, it is overwhelming trying to figure out who to blame and what the right course of action to take is. A brachial plexus injury to your baby should never occur under the care of a licensed physician. Contact an Arizona personal injury attorney today to discuss your options for compensation. For more information: www.solomonrelihan.com