Maryland Birth Injury Attorney

The Most Common Birth Injuries

Brachial plexus injury: The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that conducts signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Brachial plexus injuries are caused by damage to those nerves. Symptoms may include a limp or paralyzed arm, lack of muscle control in the arm, hand, or wrist, and lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or hand. Although injuries can occur at any time, many brachial plexus injuries happen during birth; the baby's shoulders may become impacted during the birth process causing the brachial plexus nerves to stretch or tear. There are four types of brachial plexus injuries: Avulsion- the most severe type, in which the nerve is torn from the spine. Rupture- in which the nerve is torn but not at the spinal attachment. Neuroma- in which the nerve has tried to heal itself but scar tissue has grown around the injury, putting pressure on the injured nerve and preventing the nerve from conducting signals to the muscles. Neuropraxia or stretch- in which the nerve has been damaged but not torn. Neuropraxia is the most common type of brachial plexus injury.
Bruising/forceps marks: Some babies may show signs of bruising on the face or head simply as a result of the trauma of passing though the birth canal and contact with the mother's pelvic bones and tissues. Forceps used with delivery can leave temporary marks or bruises on the baby's face and head. Babies delivered by vacuum extraction may have some scalp bruising or a scalp laceration (cut).
Caput succedaneum: Caput succedaneum is a diffuse swelling & bruising of the scalp in a newborn that occurs when the head first enters the cervix during birth. A caput succedaneum is caused by the mechanical trauma of the initial portion of scalp pushing through the initially narrow cervix. The swelling may be on any portion of the scalp, may cross the midline (as opposed to a cephalhematoma) and may be discolored because of slight bleeding in the area (bruising). The swelling usually disappears in a few days without problems.
Facial paralysis: Seventy-five per cent of cases of facial paralysis in adults are caused by an inflammation of the facial nerve called Bell's palsy . This disorder (probably derived from a virus) is common, affecting 25 out of 100,000 individuals per year. It is more common in people with diabetes. It usually affects one side of the face (very rarely both sides at one time), causing a drooping mouth, drooling , and excessive tearing from one eye. Paralysis occurs within a few hours to a few days. There may also be a loss of taste on the front of the tongue on the affected side of the face. Sound may also seem louder on the affected side (hyperacusis). While the facial distortion usually improves over time, there may be some permanent deformity in 20% of individuals. Full recovery is less likely in older people, as well as those with hyperacusis, loss of taste, and severe paralysis. Recurrence of paralysis on the same side or the opposite side occurs in 1 in 10 people. In facial paralysis due to stroke , the eye on the affected side can be closed and the forehead can be wrinkled. This is not possible with Bell's palsy. Other muscles on one side of the body may also be involved with a stroke. Facial paralysis due to a brain tumor generally develops gradually with accompanying headaches, seizures , or hearing loss. In newborns, facial paralysis may result from birth trauma.
Fractures: The severity of a fracture usually depends on the force that caused the fracture. If the bone's breaking point has been exceeded only slightly, then the bone may crack rather than breaking all the way through. If the force is extreme, such as in an automobile collision or a gunshot, the bone may shatter. If the bone breaks in such a way that bone fragments stick out through the skin or a wound penetrates down to the broken bone, the fracture is called an "open" fracture. This type of fracture is particularly serious because once the skin is broken, infection in both the wound and the bone can occur.
Subconjunctival hemorrhage: A subconjunctival hemorrhage is the breakage of small blood vessels in the eyes of a baby. One or both of the eyes may have a bright red band around the iris. This is very common and does not cause damage to the eyes. The redness is usually absorbed in a week to ten days.

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