SHOULDER DYSTOCIA MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Shoulder dystocia medical malpractice is an infrequent occurrence that can have fatal consequences for the child. This problem is an obstetric emergency feared by healthcare professionals and occurs after the baby's head is delivered at which point the shoulder becomes trapped behind the mothers pubic bone. As a result of the baby’s configuration it is unable to breath because the chest and umbilical cord are compressed within the birth canal leaving no source of oxygen. Unless the child is delivered quickly there is a risk of brain injury or death. A subsequent risk to the child occurs after identification of the problem and only gentle traction should be applied to avoid injury to the brachial plexus which is a network of nerves that run from the spinal cord, across the shoulders to the tips of the fingers. Damage to these nerves can result in permanent disability known as Erbs Palsy and Klumpkes Palsy together with the associated conditions of Horner’s Syndrome and Torticollis.

The accepted protocols which may relieve the problem include:

• repositioning the mother to make to pelvic outlet more favorable to delivery
• changing the position of the baby which is called the Woods maneuver when the shoulder is grasped with both hands and pushed towards the baby's chest which helps the shoulder to pass under the mothers pubic bone
• breaking the baby's clavicle bone on purpose
• deliberately breaking the mother's pelvic bone
• emergency caesarean section;
• cutting a deep episiotomy which allows better access to the birth canal
• performing the McRobert's maneuver which is also called extended lithotomy because the mother's hips are pressed back onto her abdomen and held.
• applying traction in a horizontal plane to avoid damaging the brachial plexus
• applying pressure over the mother's pubic area to dislodge the child’s shoulder:

There are a number of recognized risk factors for shoulder dystocia including :

• maternal diabetes
• large baby
• history of large babies;
• gestational diabetes
• gestation over 40 weeks
• short mother
• maternal obesity
• contracted or flat pelvis
• protracted first stage of labor
• prolonged second stage of labor
• maternal weight gain of more than 35 lbs
• history of similar problems
• 8 years or more since the last labour:

Many health care professionals are not knowledgeable about the proper procedures for dealing with this problem and which can result in Shoulder dystocia medical malpractice. We are an independent legal service and we can help you to exercise your legal rights to obtain compensation. Our lawyers will deal with your claim using a contingency fee arrangement which means if you don't succeed in receiving compensation then your lawyers won't get paid. You will receive a complete professional service from lawyers who specialise in claiming compensation for personal injury caused as a result of clinical negligence. For free advice without obligation just complete the contact form and a qualified lawyer will telephone you immediately to discuss your compensation claim without further obligation.