• Cerebral Palsy
• Erb’s Palsy
• Klumpke’s Palsy
• Brachial Plexus
• Brain Damage
• Fractured Extremeties
• Infant Paralysis
• Facial Paralysis
• Caput Succedaneum
• Cephalohematoma
• Bruising/Forecep Marks
• Sub-conjunctival Hemorrhage

Klumpke's Palsy is a birth injury that occurs when a child suffers an injury to the brachial plexus during birth. Palsy statistics show that there is one brachial plexus injury for every 500 to 1000 births. Klumpke's Palsy is one of many Brachial Plexus injuries. Other types include Brachial Plexus Palsy and Shoulder Dystocia. There are four basic types of nerve injury a child can suffer during delivery that can result in a brachial plexus injury, leading to Klumpke's Palsy. An avulsion is the most dangerous brachial plexus injury; it occurs when the nerve is torn from the spine during birth. A rupture occurs when a nerve is torn, but remains attached to the spine. As the nerve attempts to heal itself, a neuroma, or scar tissue, can form. A praxis occurs when the nerve does not tear and heals by itself in a few months.

Klumpke's Palsy may be prevented by anticipating the various risk factors that lead to it. These risk factors include gestational diabetes, excessive weight gain due to pregnancy, obesity, expectant mothers with a small pelvis, mothers who have given birth to large babies in the past, and mothers in post-term pregnancy.

Klumpke's Palsy is also preventable in most cases. Doctors should know how to facilitate a healthy delivery, whether complications arise or not. Up to three in a thousand babies suffer some type of brachial plexus injury during delivery, sometimes causing Klumpke's Palsy. Medical malpractice or negligence of the physician could be the cause.

Symptoms of Klumpke's Palsy occur from damage to the nerves of the seventh and eighth cervical and first thoracic vertebrae. Common signs are a limp hand, and fingers that do not move. Victims of Klumpke's Palsy may also sometimes suffer from Horner’s syndrome, which has symptoms of droopy eyelids and a smaller pupil in the affected eye.

If your child suffers from these symptoms or has been diagnosed with Klumpke's Palsy, you should immediately speak to an experienced Melbourne birth injury lawyer. Click here for help.