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Warning Signs of Brachial Palsy Every Parent Should Know

You may have been prepared for a lot of things, as you anticipated the arrival of your new baby.  What you probably weren’t prepared for was brachial palsy.

Brachial palsy is a potentially serious injury that impacts newborns.  It is characterized by a loss of movement or arm weakness resulting from damage to the bundle of nerves near the shoulder, referred to as the brachial plexus.

This birth injury comes in many different forms, such as Erb’s palsy, brachial plexus and Klumpke paralysis.  The type of condition is identified according to the area that is injured.

As a parent or caregiver of a child with brachial palsy, you may be wondering what caused this birth trauma.   A difficult delivery, excessive pulling on the shoulders during delivery and a breech deliver, also known as feet first, can all lead to brachial palsy.  Sometimes, though, a doctor’s negligence or mistake can cause your infant to suffer a birth injury.

There are definite warning signs that could indicate that your baby has brachial palsy.  Some of the symptoms include:

• Keeping the arm flexed at the elbow and held against the body
• Decreased grip on the affected side
• Absent Moro reflex on the affected side
• Lack of spontaneous movement in the upper or lower arm or hand
  

If you think your child may have sustained brachial palsy due to doctor’s negligence, you should contact an experienced Northern Kentucky birth injury lawyer at the Law Office of Schachter, Hendy & Johnson at (859) 578-4444 or (888) 606-5297.  

For more information on this topic, read the article, Common Causes of Brachial Palsy.