Klumpke’s palsy is a serious condition that babies may suffer when there is brachial plexus injury in between the first thoracic nerve (the T1) and the eighth cervical nerve (the C8). As a result, the baby suffers serious damages as a result.
For parents, it’s important to know when Klumpke’s palsy occurs and how it can result in long-term problems. Knowing this can also help you recognize the legal options available for you to pursue legal action against the responsible party.
The Causes of Which You Should Be Aware
Klumpke’s palsy most often occurs with vaginal births where the mother is smaller and the baby is expected to have a large birth weight. The baby may need aid being pulled from the birth canal, but if not done in a safe and proper manner, the damages can be severe.
Klumpke’s palsy is similar to Erb’s palsy in that there are four ways the injury may occur: partial damage, damage that heals but impacts the ability to send signals, tearing of the nerve, and the nerve being completely severed from your baby’s spine.
Symptoms of Klumpke’s Palsy
Babies may experience severe symptoms associated with Klumpke’s palsy, some worse than others. Here are some of the symptoms that may arise as a result of this type of condition, depending on the severity of the injury:
- Severe and continuous pain at the affected area of the body
- Numbness due to the injury to the spinal cord
- Muscle problems including immobility, weakness, or stiffness
- Paralysis in the arm
- Stiffness of the joints in the affected area
- No sensation in the injured arm and/or hand
- Horner’s syndrome—droopiness of the eyelids
Our Chicago birth injury lawyers work hard to help you recognize what options you have to pursue legal address against a negligent medical professional. Your baby’s treatment and quality of life can be helped by pursuing compensation for the injuries they’ve sustained.
At Beam Legal Team, we have decades of experience handling birth injury cases. We know what kind of impact negligence has and how your baby’s life may be affected. Let us guide you through the complex legal system.
Call our firm at (866) 404-5221 today.