Some of the Twenty Most Common Birth Injuries
In a study of the relevant literature, Dr. Jana L. Pressler sought to identify the most frequently occurring forms of birth injury and to establish a system of classifying these distinct dangers that newborns face. This is an important step in developing a better understanding of the nature of the risks present in the process of childbirth and to classify the causes and outcomes of a variety of birth injury types.
The following list represents a selection from Pressler’s findings regarding the most common birth injuries and their causes, though not their outcomes.
- Hyphema – blunt trauma to the eye causes blood vessels to leak into the aqueous humor
- Abducens nerve injury – pressure on the skull, often from instruments, causes nerve damage
- Brachial plexus injuries -pulling the shoulder/ head stretches or tears nerves in the neck or spine
- Fractured femur/humerus – strong traction in difficult breech births
- Subdural hematoma – blood clot between skull and brain, primarily in forceps/vacuum delivery
- Spinal cord injury – may be fatal, depending on location of injury, caused by forceful pulling and hyperextension of the neck
Even from this fractional representation of Dr. Pressler’s list, it is immediately apparent that these injuries are attributable to actions on the part of the doctors and nurses in the delivery room and are caused by medical malpractice. Therefore, birth injuries falling under these categories are fundamentally preventable through more cautious and deliberate actions during delivery.
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If speed and carelessness in the delivery room has caused your newborn to suffer these or any other birth injuries, contact the Philadelphia birth injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-238-1130.