Ohio Birth Injury Lawyer
Cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy are two very different birth injuries which are often preventable and the result of medical malpractice. Cerebral palsy is a brain injury. Erb’s palsy affects the child’s shoulder, arm, elbow, hand, and/or fingers. If your child has cerebral or Erb’s palsy, please talk to an experienced Ohio birth injury lawyer right away. You may be entitled to compensation which can pay for your child’s needs.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a brain injury which primarily causes problems with movement and posture, but is often accompanied by other problems such as mental retardation. CP is not progressive, meaning that it does not get worse over time.
CP can cause:
- Muscle weakness
- Spasticity
- Seizures
- Lack of coordination
- Inability to sit up on one’s own
- Abnormal gait
- Inability to walk
- Paralysis
- Drooling
- Speech problems
- Expressive language disorder
- Hearing problems
- Vision problems
- Inability to nurse
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing
- Digestive problems
- Malnutrition
- Slowed growth
- Urinary incontinence
- Pain
Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy is caused by damage to the nerves that control the shoulder, arm, elbow, hand, and/or fingers. It usually occurs when the brachial plexus is damaged during vaginal birth.
The brachial plexus is a nerve bundle located between the neck and shoulder. When the baby’s shoulder gets wedged behind the mother’s pubic bone, a complication called shoulder dystocia, force used during delivery can stretch or tear the nerves.
Brachial plexus injury can also occur without shoulder dystocia due to uterine tumors, tumors in the neck of the fetus, viral disease, and breech position.
With proper treatment, some babies can recover from Erb’s palsy while others will experience permanent impairment. Physical therapy is necessary for most babies and some will also require surgery.
If your child has cerebral palsy or Erb’s palsy, in Ohio, please call an experienced birth injury lawyer of The Thompson Law Firm at 1-614-461-9000 or toll free 1-800-461-9013 or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.
