Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers Explain Why Broken Bones Could be a Sign of Oregon Birth Injuries Due to Medical Errors
You do not need to go to medical school to know that newborns are very precious and fragile. A baby’s small stature and frail body are just prone to injury. However, one uncommon injury during a natural birth is a broken bone. While broken collarbones can happen, it is uncommon for broken legs, arms, or other bones to be broken during the labor and delivery process. This is because a baby’s bones are typically softer and even a little flexible. Thus, it takes rather significant force or torque on a baby’s limb for there to be a broken bone. Usually this indicates that there is a deviation from standard of care which causes this severe type of birth injury. Learn why broken bones could be a sign of birth injuries due to careless, reckless, and downright negligent medical care from our medical malpractice lawyers.
Broken Bones Can be a Reckless Birth Injury
There are man different types of birth injuries which a newborn could sustain. This includes serious injuries like hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries, or other types of very serious birth injuries. While broken bones may see much less severe than all of these types of injuries, and they usually are, broken bones can have long-lasting effects for a newborn. This is particularly true if the broken bone was not identified and treated quickly and heals wrong, or if the broken bone affects the growth plate. In fact, broken bones affecting a newborn’s growth plate could have massive and catastrophic ramifications affecting whether a newborn will regain control over his or her arm, or whether the newborn will ever be able to walk properly.
Signs of a Broken Bone in a Newborn
The most common broken bone for a newborn is the collarbone. This occurs when a baby is too large or just big enough to fit through the birth canal. Sometimes the positioning of the baby and crunch or crush the shoulders together which can break the collar bone. Other broken bones, such as a leg or arm, could be harder to damage and sometimes harder to identify. But it is imperative that a person identify the broken bone and begin treatment immediately.
The signs of a broken bone include the following:
- Non-stop crying;
- Swelling, redness, and warmth at the injury site;
- Little or no movement of the injured limb or at the injury location, including odd or peculiar movement that is not natural;
- Malformation of the limb or area of the body, including an unnatural bend in a leg or arm, or droop in the shoulder with a collarbone fracture;
- Abnormal blood test results;
- Lumps, bumps, or other abnormal formations;
- A baby playing with, touching, holding, or swatting at an injured limb or part of the body; or
- Other troubling symptoms.
Families Who Have a Newborn with Any Oregon Birth Injury Should Call our Law Firm
Broken bones are rare in babies. Anytime a broken bone is anything other than a collar bone, it is also suspicious. Newborns who have sustained a broken bone could be victims of Oregon medical malpractice and should have a competent birth injury lawyer review the case. If your child was diagnosed with any other troubling health condition such as cerebral palsy, Kernicterus, or any other type of Oregon birth injury, make sure you get Oregon birth injury lawyers who understand how devastating HIE is and what needs to be done. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
