Klumpke’s Palsy Lawyers in North Carolina

Representing Injured Children & Their Parents since 1997

Klumpke’s palsy, sometimes referred to as Klumpke’s paralysis or Dejerine-Klumpke palsy, is a type of brachial plexus injury that occurs when the nerves connecting the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm, and hand are injured. Though similar to Erb’s palsy, Klumpke’s palsy is characterized by weakness in the forearm, wrist, fingers, and hand.

If you went through a difficult labor or delivery and your child was later diagnosed with Klumpke’s palsy, it’s likely that your child suffered a birth injury. If this is the case, you have the right to take legal action against the liable party. This may be the delivery room doctor, a nurse, or another negligent medical provider who caused the initial injury.

Learn more when you contact Lanier Law Group for a free, confidential consultation. Our North Carolina Klumpke’s palsy lawyers are prepared to put decades of experience on your side.

Symptoms of Klumpke’s Palsy

As previously mentioned, Klumpke’s palsy occurs when the forearm, wrist, and/or hand and fingers are affected by a brachial plexus injury. Therefore, the signs and symptoms of the condition are typically most prevalent in these areas.

Some common symptoms of Klumpke’s palsy include:

• Weakness in the affected area
• A claw-like appearance to the hand
• Muscle atrophy in the forearm, wrist, or hand
• Inability to use one hand
• A drooping eyelid on one side of the face (Horner’s syndrome)
• Limpness/paralysis of the affected area
• Stiffness, numbness, and general pain in the affected area

Take your child to a qualified medical doctor if you have noticed any of these or other signs of Klumpke’s palsy or a brachial plexus injury. A competent medical professional can provide an accurate diagnosis, as well as recommendations for treatment.

What Causes Klumpke’s Palsy?

In most cases, Klumpke’s palsy occurs when the brachial plexus nerves are stretched, damaged, or torn. This often occurs when a doctor is not careful during delivery and pulls on the baby’s head or neck. It can also happen when the doctor twists the infant’s head too far to one side when attempting to remove him or her from the mother’s birth canal.

Some risk factors associated with Klumpke’s palsy include:

• Prolonged labor (particularly when the second stage of labor lasts more than one hour)
• Breech presentation (the baby’s feet are facing down, rather than his/her head)
• Improper use of birth-assisting devices, such as forceps or a vacuum extractor
• Small maternal size and/or a large infant/high birth weight
• Narrow maternal birth canal, leading to the infant’s shoulders becoming lodged
• Gestational diabetes, leading to high birth weight and a more difficult delivery
• General trauma to the brachial plexus nerves at any stage of pregnancy, labor, or birth

Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals should uphold the standard duty of care by knowing, identifying, and addressing any risk factors for Klumpke’s palsy. When they fail to do so, or simply act negligently, they can and should be held accountable.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

The birth of a child should be a joyous occasion. However, when the medical team responsible for delivering your child is negligent and your baby suffers serious injuries as a result, you are likely to feel incredibly distressed and overwhelmed.

At Lanier Law Group, our birth injury lawyers can handle every aspect of your claim so that you can focus on getting your child proper medical attention to allow him or her to recover, heal, and live a normal and happy life. Our North Carolina Klumpke’s palsy attorneys understand the complex processes involved in these types of cases. We can gather all applicable evidence, including medical records, to establish liability and outline the full extent of your child’s damages. From there, we can aggressively advocate for the maximum compensation your family is owed.

Visit one of our multiple office locations or call (855) 757-4204 for a free consultation. We offer legal services in both English and Spanish.