Birth Injuries Involving Broken Bones

There are various types of birth injuries that can affect a baby and some birth injuries involve broken bones.

Although broken bones can completely heal with proper medical treatment, the treatment could be expensive. In addition, the broken bones may fail to set correctly, and in severe cases, the injury may be permanent.

Types of Broken Bone Injuries in Newborns

The bones of a newborn are fragile and can be easily broken during a difficult labor. The most common broken bone injury that a newborn can suffer is a broken clavicle. Other bones can be broken including those in the wrist, foot, arm, leg, hip, neck, and back. If a child suffers a broken bone injury, he or she will not be able to move the affected part and will suffer severe pain.

Causes of Broken Bones During Childbirth

• prolonged labor
• unsafe and improper use of Pitocin
• failure to recognize and respond to a breech birth
• aggressive use of assistive techniques such as vacuum and forceps
• shoulder dystocia, a condition when the baby becomes stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone

Treatment for Broken Bones

The treatment for a broken bone injury suffered during delivery will depend on how serious the injury is and where it occurred. In case of a clavicle fracture, there is normally no treatment required and caregivers will need to be careful in handling the baby. The arm may be immobilized to help the bone set and recover quickly.

For breaks in other locations, a doctor may have to set the bone or use surgical methods to join the bone. A broken back and neck are the two most serious types of broken bone injuries. These injuries need urgent treatment and even after proper treatment the bones may not heal fully and correctly, leading to a permanent disability. Broken bones may be accompanied by nerve damage, which can cause serious problems such as loss of sensation and paralysis.

Birth Injuries and Medical Negligence

If a doctor is responsible for causing the birth injury, the doctor may be held liable for the losses resulting from the injury. However, in order to claim any damages, the victim’s family will need to prove that the attending doctor was negligent, resulting in the birth injury. If your child has been injured as a result of a doctor’s negligence, you can claim compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and any other damages resulting from the injury. The injured child and the family may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages.