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Home » Consumer Information » Medical Malpractice » Birth Injury

Dejerine-Klumpke Palsy

The chain of nerves that sends signals from the spine on down to the hands is called the brachial plexus, and brachial plexus injuries are the result of those nerves being damaged. Dejerine-Klumpke palsy describes the condition when the lower brachial plexus is paralyzed due to some sort of injury. As a result, the muscles in the forearm and hand suffer from paralysis. Dejerine-Klumpke palsy is so unique that it only accounts for under one percent of all brachial plexus injuries.

Brachial plexus injuries often occur when a newborn's shoulders are traumatized during childbirth, causing the brachial plexus nerves to extend beyond their normal range or tear if the strain becomes too intense.

There are a few different kinds of brachial plexus injuries to be concerned with:

  • Avulsion -- causes the most damage to the brachial plexus and rips the nerve from the spine.
  • Rupture -- nerve tears but remains attached to the spine.
  • Neuroma -- nerve tears and heals, while scar tissue from the healing process compresses the injured nerve and does not allow it to send and receive signals with upper body muscles.
  • Neuropraxia -- nerve is jarred, but does not tear. This is the most frequently reported brachial plexus injury.

Typical symptoms of this disorder include:

  • Paralysis of the arms.
  • Sporadic motor function in the arms, wrists, or hands.
  • Loss of feeling in arms or hands.

A portion of brachial plexus injuries may heal on their own, and the majority of babies injured during the delivery process will show significant improvements by the time they reach three or four months old. Those that do require treatment will do physical therapy and have surgery if necessary.

The location and type of brachial plexus injury determines the likelihood that the victim will experience a full recovery. In terms of avulsions and ruptures, the prospect of recovery is nonexistent unless the nerve is surgically reattached shortly after the injury occurs. For neuroma and neuropraxia injuries, the potential for full recuperation fluctuates. Studies have proven that those suffering from neuropraxia will recover fairly quickly with a 90-100 percent return of mobility. However, under 50 percent of those inflicted with Dejerine-Klumpke palsy will ever recover. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is a driving force behind research on nervous system injuries like brachial plexus. They are constantly looking for better methods to prevent and care for these disorders.

If your child developed Dejerine-Klumpke palsy at birth, it very well may have been caused by the negligent actions of a member of the medical staff present in the delivery room. Contact a Florida medical malpractice lawyer to answer questions regarding any legal action that you may be able to pursue.

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