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Savannah Brachial Plexus Injury Lawyers

Strong advocacy for brachial plexus birth injuries in Georgia

Obstetricians and other doctors should be prepared to identify the risk factors for brachial plexus injuries and what steps to take to prevent them. Incompetent medical care can require corrective surgeries. Many newborns are diagnosed with permanent brachial plexus disability. At Harris Lowry Manton LLP, we’ve obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in recoveries during our decades of practice, including many verdicts and settlements for one million and higher. Our Savannah brachial plexus injury lawyers have the experience and working relationships with medical professionals to fight for all the compensation your child needs and deserves.

Steve Lowry and the other attorneys at Harris Penn Lowry are the best in the business. They go above and beyond to take care of their clients. They are accessible, professional and highly qualified.

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What are brachial plexus injuries?

Johns Hopkins Medicine states that “the brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves that stems from nerve roots in the cervical (neck) and upper trunk (torso) sections of the spinal cord (C5-T1), creating a network that connects to the nerves in the arm.” The brachial plexus nerves control movement of the arms, hands, and wrists. The brachial plexus nerves are also sensory, allowing one to feel pain.

A brachial plexus birth injury can result in the complete loss of the use of an arm or hand.

There are two types of brachial plexus birth injuries:

  • Erb’s palsy. This injury causes “numbness and loss of motion around the shoulder and an inability to flex the elbow, lift an arm, or bring objects to the mouth.”
  • Klumpke’s palsy. This less common birth injury affects the lower brachial plexus which results in the loss of sensation and/or motion of the hand and wrist – which means your newborn will be unable to move his/her fingers.

While most children regain all or most of their normal function with occupational and physical therapy, some may require surgical intervention. Other children may live with a lifetime of pain and suffering. Early diagnosis and treatments increase the odds of a stronger recovery.

What are the symptoms of brachial plexus?

Symptoms of brachial plexus injury, according to Johns Hopkins, vary depending on where the injury occurs and the severity of the injury. The shoulder is affected if the injuries are higher up (in the neck area) on the spinal cord. Lower-placed injuries affect the arm, hand, and wrist.

Common brachial plexus injury symptoms include:

  • Loss of feeling or numbness in the arm or hand
  • Inability to move or control an arm, hand, wrist, or shoulder
  • A limp-hanging arm
  • Sudden and severe pain or a burning or stinging sensation in the arm or shoulder

How do doctors diagnose brachial plexus injuries in Savannah?

Some of the diagnostics used to diagnose a brachial plexus injury in addition to a physical exam include:

  • An X-ray of the shoulder and neck to determine if there are any fractures, bone injuries, or damage to the tissues and nerves of the brachial plexus
  • MRIs and CT scans
  • Nerve conduction studies and electromyograms

These tests may be repeated so your physician can monitor your child’s progress.

Are there treatments for brachial plexus injuries?

Treatments for brachial plexus injuries vary depending on the location and source of the injury. Nonsurgical treatments include:

  • Physical therapy. Your child will learn exercises that may help with range of motion, flexibility, and restoring function in the arms and hands.
  • Occupational therapy. Your child will learn practical skills, such as dressing, when he/she is old enough.
  • Assistive devices. These include splints, braces, and compression sleeves.
  • These may include corticosteroid creams and injections.

Surgery may help your child, though it can take months or years to see the results because it takes a long time for nerve tissue to grow and heal.

John Hopkins Medicine states that “brachial plexus surgeries should take place within six months of injury for the best chance at recovery.” Possible surgical procedures include:

  • Nerve repair. Reconnection of a torn nerve.
  • “Removing scar tissue from the injured nerve to improve function.”
  • Nerve graft. A healthy nerve from another body part is used to connect the two ends of a separated nerve.
  • Nerve transfer. “Attaching a less important but still functional nerve to the damaged nerve, creating a framework for new growth.”
  • Tendon and muscle transfers. These transfers use a less important tendon or muscle to restore function.

For infants, Johns Hopkins recommends that if your child doesn’t improve after three months of occupational therapy, you should seek help from a pediatric neurologist and a pediatric neurosurgeon. About 10% of all babies with a brachial plexus birth injury require some type of surgery. If your child’s injury occurred during birth, it’s best to have surgery between four and nine months of age.

The long-term effects and risks of brachial plexus injury include developing Horner’s syndrome – a disorder in which “certain nerves of the sympathetic nervous system are damaged.” This disorder can cause drooping eyelids, decreased facial sweating on one side of the face, and an abnormally constricted pupil. Your child could live with chronic pain without prompt treatment.

Why do newborns develop brachial plexus during their deliveries?

During delivery, a baby’s brachial plexus nerves are vulnerable. Doctors should anticipate the possibility of a brachial plexus injury because this type of injury is common – occurring in one to two births per 1,000. The risk of a brachial plexus injury increases for babies in difficult vaginal deliveries and when the mother has diabetes. Another risk factor is when the delivery is breech.

This birth injury can occur when the head of the newborn is stretched away from the shoulder – damaging the underlying brachial plexus nerves. Shoulder dystocia occurs when the shoulder is temporarily stuck under the pubis during delivery and can result in brachial plexus injury.

Doctors should understand the risk factors for brachial plexus injuries and take preventive measures, such as ensuring the correct position of your baby during the delivery,

Who is liable if medical malpractice causes brachial plexus in Savannah?

At Harris Lowry Manton LLP, we file medical malpractice claims against everyone responsible for your newborn’s brachial plexus injuries. Our Savannah birth injury lawyers file claims against:

  • Obstetricians and other doctors
  • Anesthesiologists
  • The hospital where the deliveries take place
  • Nurses and other members of the delivery team

How much is my child’s brachial plexus claim worth in Georgia?

Our Savannah brachial plexus injury lawyers work with our independent network of physicians to show why your newborn’s birth injuries are due to medical malpractice. We also work with physicians who treat brachial plexus injuries to review your child’s treatment options and understand every way your child’s life is affected by his/her injuries.

We demand compensation for all your child’s current and future:

  • Medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of bodily function
  • Loss of quality of life

In severe cases, your child will live with a permanent disability. We work to ensure your child’s needs are taken care of.

Do you have a Savannah brachial plexus lawyer near me?

Harris Lowry Manton LLP meets parents and children at our Savannah office located at 410 E. Broughton Street. We do, when necessary, arrange to see clients away from the office. We also conduct phone consultations and online consultations.

We understand your distress and how you want to help your child in every way possible. We’ll answer all your questions and guide you calmly and clearly through each phase of your medical malpractice claim.

Talk with our accomplished Savannah brachial plexus attorneys now

The attorneys at Harris Lowry Manton LLP have been recognized as among the top trial lawyers in Georgia and the United States. We’ve earned this recognition due to our impressive record of verdicts and settlements in all types of personal injury cases, including medical malpractice. We’ve also earned these honors because of our compassion for our clients, our thorough preparation of liability issues and damage claims, our negotiation skills, and our trial advocacy skills. Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We handle brachial plexus birth injury cases on a contingency fee basis.

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Savannah Office

410 E. Broughton Street
Savannah, GA 31401

Phone: 912.651.9967
Fax: 912.651.1276

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