Expecting parents in Texas should be aware of Klumpke’s palsy. This is a form of paralysis that results from injuries to the lower brachial plexus, which is an array of nerves that are located in the neck and control arm movement. Infants who have this type of palsy will experience weakness and a lack of motion in their hands and forearms.
The likelihood of Klumpke’s paralysis is low. In fact, only two to four infants out of 1,000 will develop the condition. It is not unusual for children with Klumpke’s paralysis to make a full recovery, as the majority of patients with the condition have a neuropraxia injury. For patients whose injury is more grave, they may exhibit symptoms for a longer time and have lifelong disabilities.
Klumpke’s palsy results when the T1 and C8 nerves are torn as the arm is stretched above the shoulder in an overstated manner. This type of birth injury usually takes place when there is a complicated vaginal delivery caused by shoulder dystocia. This requires the infant to be removed from the birth canal with the arms above the head.
Klumpke’s paralysis can be caused by four kinds of acute injuries. Neuropraxis, which is the least severe and most frequently occurring type of injury, refers to the nerve being stretched without being torn. A neuroma takes place when scar tissue forms from a healed injury and exerts pressure on the nearby nerves, restricting the travel of nerve signals to the hand and arm.
A medical malpractice attorney may help parents file a claim for damages if their infant sustained birth injuries due to medical negligence. Financial compensation may be sought to pay for expenses related to permanent disabilities or rehabilitation.
