Albany and Syracuse Birth Injury Malpractice Attorneys

Shoulder Dystocia, Erb's Palsy and Brachial Plexus Injuries

Shoulder dystocia is an abnormal type of labor that occurs when delivery of the fetus suddenly stops because the baby is too big to fit through the birth canal. The baby's shoulder becomes wedged behind the mother's pubic bone. This is extremely serious and can result in brain damage, Erb's palsy or even the death of the child.

If the mother and child are at risk for shoulder dystocia, a c-section may be the best option for a safe delivery. The mother should be informed of the risks and allowed to make a decision about whether to have a cesarean section. If the child is already in the birth canal, there are several different obstetrical maneuvers the doctor or midwife can use to move the fetal shoulder before continuing with delivery.

If your child suffered brain damage, nerve damage, other injuries, or died as a result of shoulder dystocia, medical negligence may have played a part. Get answers to your questions. Call the law offices of Powers & Santola, LLP, at 866.689.9692 or contact us online. We offer a free initial consultation at our offices in Syracuse and Albany in upstate New York.

Our medical malpractice attorneys have handled many birth injury cases in New York State. Our results speak for themselves: we have achieved millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for families whose children suffered serious injury during pregnancy and childbirth.

Predicting Whether a Child is at Risk of Shoulder Dystocia

The risk that shoulder dystocia will occur during delivery is increased if:

• The mother has previously delivered a large infant (over 8 pounds and 13 ounces) or shoulder dystocia occurred in prior deliveries
• The mother has diabetes
• The fetus is more than 41 weeks old
• The estimated fetal weight is greater than 8 pounds and 13 ounces

All patients who have these risk factors should be scanned with an ultrasound during the third trimester to better estimate fetal weight. A caesarean section is generally recommended if:

• The mother is diabetic and the estimated fetal weight is more than 8 pounds and 13 ounces, or
• The mother is not diabetic and the estimated fetal weight at delivery is greater than 9 pounds and 15 ounces

Other Fetal Complications During Delivery: Brachial Plexus Injuries

When a child becomes stuck in the birth canal, delivery staff may improperly pull on the child's head or arm to try to deliver the shoulders. This can cause different types of nerve damage including:

• Brachial plexus injury: The nerves to the arm are damaged, resulting in full or partial paralysis of the arm.
• Erb's palsy: The nerves at the 5th or 6th cervical vertebrae are damaged, causing paralysis of the deltoid, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, biceps and brachio-radialis muscles.
• Injury to the phrenic nerve: The phrenic nerve enables breathing. If the nerves at the 3rd, 4th, or 5th cervical vertebrae are damaged, it can cause a paralyzed diaphragm resulting in breathing difficulty and frequent lung infections.
• Injury to the nerves at the 8th cervical vertebrae and 1st thoracic vertebrae can result in "Klumpke's paralysis," a weakness of muscles in the hand making it difficult or impossible to grasp objects.

In two-thirds of these cases, injuries are permanent.

Contact Us

If your child suffered nerve damage from improper birthing practices, talk to an experienced upstate New York medical malpractice lawyer. Contact Powers & Santola, LLP, online or call us toll-free at 866-689-9692.