Knoxville Birth Injury Attorneys

Brachial Plexus Injury - Overview

A brachial plexus injury is a type of injury that occurs whenever damage is done to the nerves along a person's shoulder, arm and hand.  Usually, brachial plexus injuries occur when this particular area is stretched, leading to the nerves being torn.  For example, if someone applies pressure to a person's shoulder while pulling the person's head away from the shoulder, the person could easily sustain a brachial plexus injury.  

Brachial plexus injuries are very common when people play contact sports, like football, but may also be sustained during the birthing process.  When people have brachial plexus injuries, they may have several different symptoms.  Symptoms associated with a brachial plexus injury include:  numbness in the arm, shoulder, hand or fingers, burning sensation in the arm, inability to move the hand or fingers and severe pain.   Unlike minor injuries, which will heal over time, a brachial plexus injury can only be healed through surgery and ongoing physical therapy.

Brachial Plexus Injury as a Birth Injury

During the birth process, doctors may apply force to infants' shoulders while pulling upward on their heads to guide them from the birth canal.  Infants' shoulders may also become lodged and stuck inside the birth canal while medical professionals are applying pressure to their heads.  Both scenarios can lead to infants sustaining brachial plexus injuries.   Once the infants' nerves are damaged or torn, they may not be able to move their arms and may experience continual pain.

In order to correct the injuries, infants will need physical therapy in order to ensure that their muscles are flexible, strong and develop correctly.  Infants may also need surgery to repair the nerves that have been damaged.  Without surgery, brachial plexus injury sufferers may never fully recover and their affected limbs may remain immobile.  

Due to the adverse physical and financial consequences involved, anytime parents have reason to believe their babies suffered brachial plexus injuries because of medical professionals' negligence, they should take the time to speak with skilled birth injury lawyers, such as the lawyers at the Law Firm of John Whitfield. 

Knoxville Brachial Plexus Injury Lawyers

The Law Firm of John Whitfield has served as professional litigators and also compassionate advocates for numerous clients in Tennessee.  If you are looking to speak with trusted and dependable Knoxville birth injury lawyers, contact the Law Firm of John Whitfield today to set up an initial consultation!