erb's palsy newborn

[sandybeach]

What is the name of your state? MASS
I have a friend who just delivered an erb's palsy newborn. She had gestational diabetes and was 40 weeks. Does she have a case against the obstetrician if he did not d a c-section or turn the baby?? How do you prove something like this??
thanx. She speaks Spanish. I will pass on your comments.

[rmet4nzkx]

Originally Posted by sandybeach

What is the name of your state? MASS
I have a friend who just delivered an erb's palsy newborn. She had gestational diabetes and was 40 weeks. Does she have a case against the obstetrician if he did not d a c-section or turn the baby?? How do you prove something like this??
thanx. She speaks Spanish. I will pass on your comments.

We can't say whether or not she has a case against her OB for not doing a C section. There are a number of factors to be considered, how large was the baby etc. about 1-2 newborns in 1,000 are born with Erb's palsy and most recover without surgery by 6 months of age. THere are treatments for it when it doesn't heal. Here are 2 links that explain this condition.
[url]http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=314&topcategory=Children[/url] [url]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001395.htm[/url]

I would also suggest you search on line with the words "Erb's palsy spanish" this will lead you to Spanish language resources.

[NayeBomb]

The best surgeon for this injury is Dr. Nath from Texas.

[url]http://www.drnathbrachialplexus.com/[/url]

These cases can be very hard to prove but the mother being diabetic and a large baby those are reasons for a OB to have seriously considered a c-section. It depends if he used all the proper methods to deliver the baby (cork-screw manuver etc..) in a timely manner and did not rush. Many hospitals have "drills" in which staff on the OB floor are to participate because they can perform a c-section fairly quickly and avoid the erb's palsy injury. It depends what her last ultrasound looked like...many factors.

Sorry, this is a hard injury to deal with. I wish your friend and her child well.

[rmet4nzkx]

Originally Posted by NayeBomb

The best surgeon for this injury is Dr. Nath from Texas.

[url]http://www.drnathbrachialplexus.com/[/url]

These cases can be very hard to prove but the mother being diabetic and a large baby those are reasons for a OB to have seriously considered a c-section. It depends if he used all the proper methods to deliver the baby (cork-screw manuver etc..) in a timely manner and did not rush. Many hospitals have "drills" in which staff on the OB floor are to participate because they can perform a c-section fairly quickly and avoid the erb's palsy injury. It depends what her last ultrasound looked like...many factors.

Sorry, this is a hard injury to deal with. I wish your friend and her child well.

OP is from MA not TX I'm sure that they can find an excellent surgeon if and or when the child needs surgery, most likely the child will recover without surgery. Many infants, LARGE infants are born without any injury, sometimes there is no way to avoid it.

[NayeBomb]

I know she is from MA but we had a client from Ohio and the doctors from the Cleveland Clinic said they couldn't do anything and this doctor has travels to different states (traveling clinics)...it's just good info to have. Being from Texas they may have a spanish speaking person on staff that would be able to help. Our clients child is fine now they didn't think her arm would grow or she would have use of it. Because of her surgeries with Dr. Nath she has use with some limitations.

As far as unavoidable, I said they are hard cases to prove. I'm sorry if I gave the impression that they are totally unavoidable.

[loveumms]

Also, did she visit the same OB for her entire prenatal care? We have had several Spanish speaking woman come into our hospital for the first time in labor. Unfortunately, in one case we were unable to get prenatal records (since it was 10pm) and the translator we had was not the best and we could not get an entire history. Luckily, everything went smoothly however, this just proves the difficulty language barriers can cause (not that it was the patients fault).

US cannot accurately diagnose macrosomia (large infants) so, if an US said the baby was normal it is still not a good indicator for size.

Also, did your friend express wishes to have a trial of vaginal delivery? If she did, this may have been a reason C-section was not performed electively. In our hospital, most diabetics are sectioned for fear of complications however, there are many reasons they may not be performed: mother prefereance, operating room availablity, time factors, ect.

Unfortunately, should dystocia does occur even with the best OBs that know the maneuvers. Was this her first child? With shoulder dystocia in a multip it can be difficult to get to the OR in time to prevent an injury and maneuvers can only do so much to help prevent injury.