A birth injury is not the end. Modern medicine, therapy techniques, and disability awareness provide children impacted by severe disabilities quality of life that would have been unthinkable just 50 years ago. Treatment options for birth injuries are improving all the time. The following are a few treatment options and assistance solutions for parents impacted by birth injuries.
Therapeutic Hypothermia
A few years ago, doctors observed that cold wounds heal faster. It’s the same principle as keeping organs cold during transportation. Now, some hospitals are experimenting with therapeutic hypothermia as an immediate treatment option after a birth injury.
Newborn babies who would potentially suffer brain damage due to asphyxiation (such as from a delayed C-section) are placed in special blankets that reduce their body temperature. Doctors sedate the baby throughout the process, so they don’t shiver.
Under certain conditions, urgent therapeutic hypothermia has been shown to reverse the impact of neonatal asphyxiation. While few hospitals currently offer this treatment, success rates suggest that this therapy may become the most common treatment for neonatal asphyxiation in the future.
Physical Therapy
Erb’s palsy, also known as a brachial plexus injury, is a birth injury impacting the nerves between a child’s neck and arms. Symptoms of this injury include weakness in one arm.
Physical therapy builds muscle strength and teaches children how to increase their strength and range of motion. Depending on the amount of nerve damage, physical therapy can help young children regain full control of their arms. In other cases, a doctor may recommend surgery.
Surgery
Surgery is a rare treatment option for birth injuries but occasionally called for in the case of nerve repairs and fractures. A doctor may recommend surgery for Erb’s palsy if physical therapy proves ineffective. Nerve repairs may help a child regain some range of motion, but there’s still a possibility of permanent symptoms.
Medications
Medications don’t cure birth injuries, but they can effectively control the symptoms. Medicine can treat pain and reduce spasms and seizures. Children who frequently experience spasms or seizures due to brain damage or cerebral palsy gain incredible quality of life as a result of proper medication.
Additionally, children with cerebral palsy or a brachial plexus injury could greatly benefit from muscle relaxers that assist during physical therapy. While medication will not fix the root cause of nerve damage or a brain injury, they are effective at making children with disabilities happier and more relaxed.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy helps children and teenagers with disabilities establish a sense of independence. While it helps children with all kinds of disabilities, it is especially helpful for those with cognitive disabilities.
Occupational therapy helps children with disabilities establish daily routines, teaches them to take care of themselves in spite of their disabilities, and can establish proper behavior.
Depending on the child’s needs, occupational therapy could be ongoing or last only a few sessions. Either way, it is a fantastic treatment option that makes a big difference in many children’s lives.
Government Assistance
In addition to betterment options, there are also several government programs designed to help families impacted by certain disabilities or medical issues. Children with disabilities may be eligible for social security. Likewise, underprivileged families can apply for assistance through Medicaid.
While seeking assistance, many families choose to contact an attorney. Birth injuries are almost always a matter of medical malpractice. Liable medical staff should be held accountable for the injuries they inflict on others. Birth injury settlements can help families cover a lifetime of medical treatment and special needs equipment.
If your child suffered a birth injury due to medical malpractice, you might have a case. If you’d like an experienced Atlanta birth injury attorney to evaluate your claim, please call (404) 800-9166 or send us an email at your earliest convenience.