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Infant Injuries from Shoulder Dystocia

Injuries from shoulder dystocia can be devastating to Kansas City parents. Many of the more common injuries cause permanent damage to the newborn, resulting in long-term ramifications. While some injuries associated with with shoulder dystocia deliveries resolve on their own, other injuries, such as brachial plexus injuries, affect the child's development.

Shoulder dystocia births are those in which the one or both shoulders enter the birth canal and the mother's pelvis in the wrong way, resulting in injury in about 20 percent of those births. Some of the more common problems that can result from shoulder dystocia births are brachial plexus injuries like Erb's palsy and Klumpke's palsy. Both conditions result in developmental abnormalities.

Babies born with Erb's palsy tend to recover at a better rate than those with Klumpke's palsy. Lesions that occur higher, such as in Erb's palsy, recover at a rate of 90 percent. Lower region lesions as a result of shoulder dystocia, such as with Klumpke's palsy, can hope for a rate of full recovery around 60 percent in comparison.

Brachial plexus injuries require physical therapy to help strengthen the muscles and improve the range of motion. Surgical therapy is sometimes necessary as well. While some controversy surrounds the use of surgical therapy for brachial plexus injuries, many report the success of grafting nerves and muscles for these infants.

In the case of a difficult delivery, the method the doctor chooses to deliver the baby can help prevent most injuries. For example, there are several birthing strategies doctors can employ that will free the baby from the stuck position and minimize injury to both mother and baby. Among these methods are the McRobert's Maneuver which involves flexing the mother's legs to allow the pelvic area to expand. Some studies show that this strategy alone will resolve the shoulder dystocia in over 40 percent of births. Another method, known as the Gaskin maneuver, involves getting the mother in a hands and knees position in order to free up the pelvic space.

During delivery, a doctor who chooses to apply unnecessary force and pressure to the infant, forcing the delivery can cause more harm than good. Failing to recognize the signs of fetal distress can make delivery an emergency. To lower the risk of shoulder dystocia injuries, adequate monitoring and planning are necessary. Higher birth weights have been identified as a risk factor in shoulder dystocia deliveries. Likewise, pregnancies that are allowed to continue too long up the risk. Doctors must keep constant tabs on these risk factors, and promptly order caesarean deliveries if circumstances warrant it.

Shoulder dystocia injuries can result in other injuries. Ten percent of these injuries result in a broken clavicle, especially in infants whose chests and shoulders are fairly large. The humerus is fractured in about four percent of injuries. Babies can also suffer from contusions and bruises as a result of pressure from the mother's pubic bone. In some cases, the pressure from the delivery doctor's hands can cause the infant bruises and contusions as well.

Perhaps the most alarming affect of shoulder dystocia deliveries is when the infant suffers from fetal asphyxia. Fetal asphyxia refers to the loss of oxygen during the birthing process. Within minutes of fetal distress and oxygen loss, brain damage and death can occur. Within minutes a healthy birth can turn into a baby born with cerebral palsy, or even fetal death.

Statistically, hundreds of babies are born every year with injuries from fetal dystocia births. Severe injuries can limit the quality of life for injured children, and complicate the lives of their parents. If your child has suffered an injury that you believe could have been prevented by adequate medical care, the Kansas City child injury attorneysat Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys offer a no cost initial consultation. For more information, contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys by calling 888-348-2616 for further information. Access your free copy of the resource guide The Truth About Medical Malpractice Claims for more information.

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