What is a Brachial Plexus Injury and How Can it be Prevented?

The brachial plexus is a group of nerves which begin in the neck and extend throughout the upper body. These nerves can be injured during birth if there is difficulty in getting the baby’s shoulder through the birth canal (a condition called shoulder dystocia) and excessive force is used to deliver the baby. The severity of the injury, as well as the number of nerves which are damaged, affects the likelihood of recovery from a brachial plexus injury.

There are a few different types of brachial plexus injuries which may occur during birth. For example, Erb’s Palsy is an injury of the upper brachial plexus nerves which results in an inability to flex the elbow and loss of motion around the shoulder. Klumpke’s Palsy, however, is an injury of the lower brachial plexus nerves, which causes a loss of motion in the hand and wrist.

Since shoulder dystocia precedes brachial plexus injuries which occur during birth, research into the causes of shoulder dystocia could help with the prevention of brachial plexus injuries. As a result of research into the causes of shoulder dystocia, a list of conditions which are associated with an increased risk of shoulder dystocia has been developed. These risk factors include gestational diabetes, excessive weight gain by the mother, excessive weight gain by the baby, a small pelvic area, shoulder dystocia during a previous birth, slow dilation, and use of a vacuum extractor or forceps during delivery. While the presence of one or more of these risk factors does not necessarily mean that a shoulder dystocia will occur during your birth, it is important that you be aware of the risk. Be sure to talk your birth team and let them know that you are concerned about the possibility of shoulder dystocia and brachial plexus injuries, and that you would like them to work with you to do whatever they can to prevent them.

While not all brachial plexus injuries can be prevented, there are things that can be done to reduce the risk of shoulder dystocia and brachial plexus injuries happening during your birth. The first thing that you can do is to learn as much as you can about brachial plexus injuries and shoulder dystocia, including their causes and how they can be prevented. Also, discuss with your birth team the risks and benefits of an elective cesarean birth if the baby is large, so that the use of forceps or a vacuum extractor would be avoided altogether. A final piece of information for you to share with the medical personnel who are delivering your baby is that you wish for as little force as possible to be applied if a shoulder dystocia does occur during the course of your birth.

Brachial plexus injuries can be devastating for children and their parents. If your child suffered a brachial plexus injury during their birth, you need the assistance of a knowledgeable and experienced birth injury attorney. The skilled Tennessee birth injury attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC know how to evaluate your case and can answer all of your questions. We will sit down with you to determine the best way to proceed. As you focus on the well-being of your child, we will focus on helping you obtain the recovery that you and your child deserve. Please call us today, at (888) 470-9143 to schedule a time to discuss your case with us. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.