New Research on Shoulder Dystocia

CLEVELAND, OH, September 06, 2012 (Press-News.org) For many families, worries about birth defects and birth injuries start immediately upon learning of a pregnancy. While many parents fret over finding 10 fingers and 10 toes, there are many defects and injuries that have a more traumatic impact on a child's life than missing digits. One such birth injury is shoulder dystocia with brachial plexus injury. A program was recently developed to help identify women whose unborn children are at an increased risk of this injury. If successful, the program could dramatically reduce this form of birth injury.

The Impact of Shoulder Dystocia

Brachial plexus injury is a trauma to the shoulder of a newborn. While rare, it occurs during the birthing process and can cause massive, permanent damage and even death. Not all cases of shoulder dystocia result in brachial plexus injury, but when they do, the trauma to the child is extensive. Victims can be left with no use of one or both arms in severe cases. At best, the child will suffer extreme pain and the possibility of reduced control over the muscles in the shoulder, elbow or fingers. Serious cases generally require surgery and rehabilitation programs that last for many years.

Understanding the Risk Factors

A number of factors should put doctors on notice for an increased risk of brachial plexus injury. Gestational diabetes often leads to increased birth weight. Larger babies are more likely to experience physical trauma during the delivery process, so any condition that leads to increased birth weight increases the chances of an injury. Shoulder dystocia is possible in both cesarean and vaginal childbirth, though some have suggested that cesarean births reduce the odds of an injury. Brachial plexus injury has long been associated with the use of forceps in the birthing process. Older mothers also face an increased risk of birth injury.

The new tool is used to provide an analysis of an individual patient's risk of this form of birth injury. The latest study of the Shoulder Screen tool suggested that its use could reduce shoulder dystocia rates more than 50 percent. Most mothers show at least one risk factor association with shoulder dystocia, so a tool designed to separate those truly at risk from those with one or two possible indicators could greatly reduce the instances of this birth injury.

Birth Injuries and Medical Malpractice

Brachial plexus injury can be the result of medical negligence during pregnancy and childbirth. If a doctor fails to monitor the child properly, does not respond to the signs of fetal distress or makes a mistake during the birth, the result can be a brachial plexus injury. The medical costs incurred because of that mistake can be massive. It is important to understand why a birth injury occurred to determine whether legal action is necessary.

For more than 40 years, at the Cleveland law firm of Seaman Garson LLC, we have provided experienced representation for individuals who have been injured and families who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. Our firm is one of the top 10 personal injury law firms in the state of Ohio.

Seaman Garson, L.L.C.
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