Birth Injuries Due to Medical Malpractice in Pennsylvania – 6 Types of Birth or Delivery Errors & Injuries

Not all birth injuries are the result of medical malpractice in Pennsylvania, but a good amount of them are. Unfortunately, this means that thousands of neonatal injuries, if not more, could have been prevented with reasonable medical care. Below you’ll find a list of some of the most common birth injuries that occur due to medical negligence.

Brachial palsy injuries, such as Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy, occur when the nerves responsible for moving the arms and hands are injured. If a doctor pulls too hard or incorrectly while attempting to deliver the baby, the brachial plexus can be damaged, resulting in this type of injury.

During the delivery period, an infant’s face may have too much pressure on it, resulting in damaged nerves, known as facial paralysis. While symptoms, such as the inability to close an eye, usually occur only on one side, total facial paralysis can happen.

Oxygen deprivation happens often during delivery and can result in a brain injury. When there is a lack of oxygen, a baby can suffer a host of medical disorders, such as cerebral palsy and seizures. A brain injury such as this can occur when a doctor fails to correctly monitor an infant and there are umbilical cord issues, such as a prolapsed cord.

A fracture to the clavicle usually occurs when a delivering doctor pulls on the infant too hard while in the breech position, or when the shoulder is forcefully pulled during a prolonged and difficult deliver. Luckily, this type of fracture almost always heals, usually within 10 days.

Cephalohematoma is an injury where bleeding occurs underneath the cranium, usually directly under one of the cranial bones. It mostly appears several hours after birth when a raised bump appears on the infant’s head. Misuse of birth-assisting tools have been known to cause cephalohematoma. Risks include jaundice, anemia, and hypotension.

Caput succedaneum is an injury marked by intense swelling of the soft tissues in an infant’s scalp. Improper use of a vacuum extraction tool is the most common reason for this injury. Swelling usually reduces within days.

If you believe your newborn was injured due to negligence, please contact our Montgomery County medical malpractice attorneys today. We can help you recover damages for past and future medical care, medical equipment costs, and expenses related to therapeutic and assistive services for your child.

Call (610) 825-0500 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.