Ohio Birth Injuries Spinal Cord Injury Mechanism of Injury
The mechanism of injury for birth related spinal cord injuries can be broken down into three categories: failure to intervene, failure to properly intervene and failure to diagnose spina bifida. In most cases, all of these categories can be traced to some level of medical negligence. Spinal cord injuries can seriously affect every system in the body and can lead to premature death.
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Mothers between the ages of 25 and 34 that had mechanically-assisted births have the highest percentage of birth injuries. Women who were not subjected to mechanical tools during birth had thirty percent fewer birth injuries than those mothers who did. Basically, the numbers say that when a doctor uses birthing tools such as vacuum suction and forceps during delivery, birth injuries are more likely to happen.
However, there are cases where a doctor may not diagnose an issue during the birthing process in a timely manner, and the infant is injured due to becoming stuck in the birthing canal or emerging in a way that puts increased traction or rotational force on the infant’s spinal cord (SC). Additionally, when an unborn infant suffers from spina bifida, a health issue in which the spinal column does not fully enclose the SC, exposing the nerves, and the doctor fails to diagnose, then the infant can be mishandled during birth, further injuring the SC.
Birth Related Spinal Cord Injuries
A birth related spinal cord injury (SCI) can be mild, severe, or anywhere in between. Injuries that happen higher up on the spine, such as the cervical/neck area are the most severe and can lead to immediate death. This is because this area of the SC carries the bulk of the nerves that control the rest of our bodies. Infants with a cervical SCI may face a lifetime on a respirator or quadriplegia, along with a host of other health maladies. This is where 50 % of all birth related SCIs occur.
Infants who experience injury to their mid-back, in the thoracic region of the spine, may still experience respiratory issues, quad or paraplegia and other functional issues throughout their bodies. Injuries to the low back or pelvis affect the lumbar region or sacrum of the spine. infants with these types of injuries may be paraplegic, experience digestive issues and other health issues associated with paralysis.
Most SCIs are not curable, although medical science is advancing towards increased ability to regenerate nerves in some cases. SCIs are associated with a higher mortality rate, dying sooner than their non-injured counterparts.
Because most birth related SCIs occur due to medical negligence and completely preventable, a medical malpractice action may be warranted to investigate the mechanism of your child’s particular injury. If it was due to a negligent action on the part of your doctor or other medical staff, you and your child should be compensated for the injury. SCIs require a lifetime of care and treatment, which can rise to the tens of millions of dollars. An experienced birth injury attorney can help you obtain the maximum compensation possible.