What Are the Seven Most Common Birth Injuries?

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, approximately 28,000 children suffer birth injuries every year in the United States. Some of these injuries are minor and will heal with time without complications. Others may result in a permanent, catastrophic injury that will affect the child for the rest of his or her life. Because recognizing when an injury is related to medical malpractice during the delivery of your child is the first step in protecting your child’s rights, we have outlined the ten most common types of birth injuries below.

Cephalohematoma

Cephalohematoma is pooling of blood that occurs just underneath the baby’s skull, but outside the brain. Because many of the bones in the baby’s skull are still soft and have yet to fuse together, cephalohematomas may appear as bumps or craters on the baby’s head. The bleeding is typically caused by pressure or trauma to the baby’s head during delivery. While this can occur naturally due to the pressure in the vaginal canal, the use of instruments during delivery, such as forceps or vacuums, can significantly increase the risk of a cephalohematoma.

Typically, a cephalohematoma will go away on its own without treatment. The swelling will go down as the body reabsorbs the blood. However, cephalohematomas can leave your child at risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice, anemia, and infection.

Caput Succedaneum

Caput succedaneum is similar to cephalohematoma, in that it typically causes bumps to appear on the baby’s head. However, the bleeding which causes the bumps to form occurs above the bones of the skull, rather than underneath. Like Cephalohematoma, caput succedaneum is also caused by pressure on the head during delivery. Luckily, caput succedaneum heals quickly, generally within a few days and rarely causes complications other than a brief headache.

Bell’s Palsy

Bell’s palsy is a type of facial paralysis resulting in an inability to control the muscles in the face. It typically affects one side of the face, causing the affected side to “droop.” The symptoms can range from general weakness to complete paralysis of the affected side of the face. Bell’s palsy can be caused by damage to the facial nerves during birth. The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center admits these injuries can occur when instruments are misused during delivery, such as forceps or vacuums.

Most cases of Bell’s palsy will clear up on their own within six months as the nerves heal. However, in some rare cases, the child’s face may remain permanently paralyzed or symptoms may sporadically recur throughout the child’s life.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

Brachial plexus injuries, such as Erb’s palsy, are characterized by symptoms ranging from weakness to total paralysis in one of the baby’s arms. These symptoms are caused by damage to the nerves extending to the arm from neck and shoulder, in an area called the brachial plexus. These injuries are common when the baby’s shoulder gets stuck in the birth canal. Improper maneuvering of the shoulders, delayed intervention or excess pressure exerted on the shoulder are typical causes of injury resulting in Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy.

These injuries range from mild to severe, where the nerve root is torn from the spinal cord. While some cases of mild injury may see a complete recovery with physical therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic, many cases will result in permanent weakness or paralysis in the affected arm.

Fractures

Fractures are another common birth injury. These injuries are caused by trauma or excess pressure during birth and can be the result of delayed intervention or overzealous intervention with instruments, such as forceps and vacuums. The most common types of fractures are clavicle fractures, humerus fractures, femur fractures and depressed skull fractures. While some fractures will heal on their own with proper care and monitoring, others may cause serious complications or even death.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a potentially devastating condition that, according to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, is characterized by deficiencies in movement, motor skill development, hearing, seeing, the ability to learn and other nervous system functions. Cerebral palsy generally appears after injury to the developing brain, which can be caused by developmental abnormalities formed in the womb or by birth injuries suffered during delivery. In the medical malpractice setting, cerebral palsy acquired during birth is often caused by a lack of oxygen. This can be due to improper monitoring of fetal distress or improper handling of the child during delivery.

The effects of cerebral palsy are varied, including abnormal muscle tone, stunted reflexes and motor development, poor posture, speech problems, and chronic pain. There is no known cure for cerebral palsy, and those suffering from its effects can only hope to manage the symptoms as best as is possible through therapy and other treatments. A couple was recently awarded over 14 million dollars in Johnstown, Pennsylvania after their child suffered cerebral palsy as a result of delivery errors made at Penn Highland’s Clearfield Hospital. As a result of his injuries, the boy could not walk, talk or stand-up, despite being over 4 years old at the time of the trial.

Perinatal Asphyxia

Perinatal Asphyxia occurs when the baby is deprived of oxygen during delivery for a period long enough to cause physical injury.

Perinatal asphyxia can be caused by numerous problems encountered during delivery. Failures to properly monitor the baby during labor can cause the medical professionals to miss signs of distress caused by preeclampsia, prolonged labor, and umbilical cord issues, such as when the cord becomes knotted or wrapped around the baby’s neck. Failure to intervene may also cause the baby to remain in the uterus or birth canal too long.

The severity of the child’s injury will depend on how long the child was without oxygen. These injuries can range from insignificant to severe, including permanent brain damage and even death. The CDC estimates that, from 1980 to 2014, birth asphyxia was the 6th leading cause of death for those under 1 year old in the United States. Common injuries caused by perinatal asphyxia include brain damage, damage to the kidneys, heart, and lungs, seizure disorders, developmental delays and respiratory conditions.

What Should I Do If My Child Has Suffered a Birth Injury?

You need to call an experienced attorney immediately. At the Law Office of Alvin F. de Levie, Esq., we have decades of experience handling cases for those who have suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of a birth injury throughout the Commonwealth. We have handled cases from Philadelphia and the surrounding counties to Allegheny County, including Centre County, Montour County, Clearfield County, Lehigh County and Dauphin County. If you have suffered an injury as a result of medical malpractice, please call our firm – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 844-777-2529 (Toll-Free) for a consultation. One of our team members will be in immediate contact with you. We maintain offices throughout Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, State College, Bellefonte and Lock Haven, and we are willing to meet any clients throughout the Commonwealth.