The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Brachial plexus injuries birth injuries cause damages - sometimes, but not always permanent - damage to those nerves

Brachial plexus injury often occur from excessive lateral traction on the infant's head during birth. Excesive traction to free the shoulder pulls the child's delicate head and can cause injuries to nerve roots, commonly the C5, C6 and C7 nerve roots of the brachial plexus. Infants delievered with excessive traction can suffer rupture or avulsion injuries. These are the most troubling; there little hope for a recovery from an avulsion or repture without immediate surgery to reconnect the nerve network and the spine.

The defenses in cases involving brachial plexus injuries from excessive traction are largely the same. First, the brachial plexus injury actually occurred in utero. Second, the doctor made only "gentle tugs" in the child's delivery. In the event that does not work, the doctors either blame the mother ("natural expulsive forces") or that the lateral traction was necessary for delivery.

Certainly, these are sometimes valid defenses. Not every brachial plexus injury is medical negligence. But brachial plexus injuries are a leading causes of medical malpractice lawsuits for a reason: doctors often use excessive traction in a panic when the child's anterior shoulder initially became impacted on the pelvic bone. In many case, the OB/GYN delivering the baby often uses excessive lateral traction, pulling on the head using the corkscrew maneuver rather than placing his hand inside the mother's vagina and onto the baby's shoulder and rotating.

If you believe that you or your child suffered a brachial plexus injury as the result of medical malpractice, call a malpractice lawyer at at 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.