What is Klumpke’s Palsy? Portland Birth Injury Lawyers

Portland Birth Injury Lawyers Share Information on Oregon Medical Malpractice: What is Klumpke’s Palsy

One common type of birth injury caused by Oregon medical malpractice is a brachial plexus injury.  This is a type of injury that occurs to the nerves which originate in the neck and extend through the shoulder all the way down to the fingers.  There are several different types of brachial plexus injuries which could affect different parts of the shoulder and arm.  One type of brachial plexus injury is called Klumpke’s Palsy.  Learn about this type of birth injury from our Portland birth injury lawyers and why Klumpke’s Palsy may be caused by Oregon medical malpractice.

What is Klumpke’s Palsy?

Klumpke’s Palsy is a brachial plexus nerve injury.  This is damage to the nerves which originate from the spinal cord at the cervical spine, or neck.  The brachial plexus nerves extend through the base of the neck, through the shoulder, and down to the fingertips.  The location of damage to the brachial plexus nerves dictates what part of the shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers are most affected.  The severity of the damage also relates to the severity of the disability caused by the brachial plexus injury.

With Klumpke’s Palsy, the nerve damage to the brachial plexus affects the lower half of the arm.  This means that the hand and finger are also going to suffer some decreased sensation, motor movement, and other function.  Klumpke’s Palsy can result in pins and needles or numbness, or a complete lack of sensation.  Klumpke’s Palsy could also make fine motor movement nearly impossible.

In addition to the movement issues, Klumpke’s Palsy could also result in physical deformities to the hand, fingers, and forearm.  In more extreme cases of Klumpke’s Palsy, the hand may curl up on itself and form into what is unaffectionally known as “claw hand.”  The upper parts of the arm may be without disability if those strands, branches, or portions of the brachial plexus are unaffected.

Oregon Medical Malpractice Causing Nerve Injury

Klumpke’s Palsy’s could be caused by a variety of Oregon medical malpractice.  It is most commonly the result of birth injuries due to careless, reckless, and negligent medical care and treatment.  This includes treatment of newborns during the labor and delivery process.

The most common ways that Oregon medical malpractice may result in Klumpke’s Palsy and cause birth injuries includes the following:

  • Shoulder dystocia during the birthing process;
  • Pulling, yanking, or otherwise applying excess force on a baby’s arm, head, or neck during the birthing process;
  • Improper use of extractor tools such as forceps or vacuum extraction;
  • Grabbing or holding a baby by the arm;
  • Improper handling of the baby after birth;
  • Failing to order a c-section when there is a risk of the baby being stuck in the birth canal; and
  • Many other causes.

Families Should Ask our Portland Birth Injury Lawyers for Help 

Klumpke’s Palsy may result in a lifetime of disability.  This may be due to a lack of sensation, motor movement, and function, but it could also be due to the physical deformity caused by the nerve damage.  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, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, and Hillsboro.  

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.

For a free case evaluation

Call

(541) 385-1999 in Bend, Oregon
(503) 479-3646 in Portland, Oregon
(612) 444-3374 in Minnesota

– or fill out the form below –

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