NJ Shoulder Dystocia Attorneys
Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia occurs during delivery when a shoulder of the newborn becomes caught behind the mother’s pubic bone after the fetal head has emerged. When shoulder dystocia takes place, the remainder of the baby’s body may not be able to readily pass through the birth canal.
Shoulder dystocia is considered an obstetric emergency which demands that doctors, midwives and nurses act in a timely, efficient and appropriate manner to deliver the baby while preventing further complications and injury to the newborn. Doctors and midwives are required to employ various maneuvers designed to effectuate delivery of the child without injury. If a doctor or midwife fails to fully or properly utilize any of these "maneuvers", and/or if they exert too much force on the baby’s head or neck (traction) in attempting to deliver the child, it may result in an injury to the baby’s brachial plexus nerves which exit from the cervical spine (neck), and run through the shoulder area. These nerves control the muscle movement of the shoulder, arm, wrist, hand and fingers.
Brachial plexus nerve injuries often result in the need for neurosurgery or orthopedic surgery; and almost always require treatment by extensive physical and occupational therapies.
Some injuries associated with improperly managed shoulder dystocia deliveries include:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Erb’s Palsy/ Klumpke’s Palsy
- Phrenic Nerve Palsy (inability of the child’s chest to expand properly)
- Cosmetic deformities (child’s shortened limb, internal rotation of the arm, elbow flexion, winging of the scapula)
- Maternal perineal and other tears or ruptures (possible bleeding and infection)
- Maternal pelvic orthopedic conditions.
Healthcare providers should be aware of risk factors which increase the chance of there being a delivery complicated by shoulder dystocia. These risk factors include but are not limited to: macrosomia, a fetus large for gestational age (LGA), maternal diabetes (gestational or otherwise), prolonged gestation (a pregnancy past due dates), excessive maternal weight gain during pregnancy, a mother who is of small stature, prolonged labor, and use of a vacuum or forceps during delivery. Failing to recognize these risk factors, or communicate adequately with parents about the risks of vaginal delivery, may put the unborn child at risk for an injury; and deprive the expectant parents the option of a Caesarean Section delivery (C-section).
If a doctor’s, midwife’s or nurse’s errors caused you or your child to suffer from injuries following a shoulder dystocia, an experienced New Jersey birth injury attorney may be able to help your family obtain compensation for the physical injuries sustained and the financial costs associated with them. At Blume Goldfaden, our birth injury lawyers have the knowledge and experience to handle cases dealing with a wide-range of birth injuries, including brachial plexus injuries sustained during shoulder dystocia deliveries, brain injury, cerebral palsy and other conditions related to labor & delivery malpractice. Contact our firm at 973-635-5400 for a no cost consultation of your possible birth injury case.
Shoulder Dystocia Verdicts and Settlements
- $950,000 Settlement - Medical Malpractice - Shoulder Dystocia Birth Injury - Erbs Palsy
- $700,000 Settlement - Medical Malpractice - Birth Injury Shoulder Dystocia - Erb’s Palsy
- $700,000 Settlement - Medical Malpractice - Birth Injury - Shoulder Dystocia and Erb’s Palsy
- $682,500 Settlement - Medical Malpractice Birth Injury - Shoulder Dystocia - Erb’s Palsy
Click here to see more Blume Goldfaden verdicts and settlements.