The baby’s head has emerged from the laboring mother but suddenly, its neck retracts against the mother’s perineum, causing the baby’s cheeks to puff like a turtle retracting its neck into its shell. This tell-tale “turtle sign” of delivery complication is obstetricians’ greatest fear and means only one thing: shoulder dystocia. The baby’s anterior shoulder is caught on the mother’s pubic bone, leaving the obstetrician seconds to decide an alternative means of delivery. If the baby is not delivered within a few minutes, it could suffer irreversible brain damage or in some cases, death.

n this emergent circumstance, obstetricians consider multiple maneuvers to free the baby’s anterior shoulder. When shoulder dystocia is first recognized, both the McRoberts maneuver and suprapubic pressure should be simultaneously executed. According to M.D. Henry Lerner, the execution of these two maneuvers will resolve more than half of all shoulder dystocias.

Because the diagonal orientation of the symphysis makes shoulder delivery difficult, the McRoberts’ maneuver tilts the mother’s pelvis to make the symphysis more horizontal. This frees the anterior shoulder.

If the McRoberts maneuver does not resolve the troubled delivery by itself, suprapubic pressure can be concurrently applied. Obstetricians will place their fist above the maternal pubic bone and push the fetal shoulder in one direction to change its position to allow delivery.

The delivery complications as a result of shoulder dystocia can result in a brachial plexus injury. Shoulder dystocia is a frequent catalyst of BPI, but is by no means the only cause. The nerves at risk of injury in a BPI pass from the spinal cord between the bones of the neck and go into the arm. The nerves that run along the neck merge and branch out to form a “plexus” of nerves (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons,www.orthoinfof.aaos.org). Brachial plexus nerves control the muscles of the shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist, hand and fingers.

An infant with a brachial plexus injury will demonstrate symptoms including a limp, or paralyzed arm, loss of feeling in the arm and hand, or a lack of muscle control in the arm, hand and wrist. The National Institution of Neurology Disorders and Stroke says the injury can be diagnosed as an avulsion (the most severe case), in which case the nerves are completely separated from the spinal cord, a rupture, meaning the nerve is torn but not at the spinal attachment, neuroma, when the nerve is torn but the healed scar tissue puts pressure on the nerve and prevents sending signals to muscles, and as neuropraxia/stretch: the nerve is damaged but not torn.

Brachial Plexus Injury may also be referred to as Erbs Palsy, which refers to the damage done to nerve higher in the plexus. Global, or total, brachial plexus birth palsy involves higher and lower damaged nerves.

Brachial Plexus injury is one of the most common birthing injuries. 1 or 2 of every 1,000 babies are diagnosed with BPI. Even though BPI is a common injury, it’s recovery rate is extremely high. According to the University of Pittsburg Department of Neurological Surgery, a Collaborative Perinatal Study of 1973 showed that 90-95% of diagnosed infant–usually with neuroma and neuropraxia– have a spontaneous recovery of function, leaving only 5-10% at risk for permanent functional disability. In circumstances of avulsion and rupture when spontaneous return of function does not occur, surgery may be necessary.

A full recovery can take up to two years using parent-child exercises and physical therapy. Doing physical therapy exercises with your child each day will not only ensure good range of motion and prevent joint contracture, but show your daily support of their recovery process and journey to independence. During this difficult time, both you and your infant deserve support and peace of mind.

Chicago Brachial Plexus Support Group
Jennifer Engelhart
3952 West 102nd Street
Chicago, IL 60655
773-445-4652
Chicago_bpi@hotmail.com
http://www.chicagobpi.com/

Chicagoland Area BP Erbs Palsy SG
Penny Dwiel
1638 Chestnut
Des Plaines, Illinois 60018
Open Arms BP Palsy Support Group
Shoba Shekar
1087 Black Wolf Court
Fairview Heights, IL 62208
pshekar@aol.com

Should your child be a victim of Brachial Plexus Injury due to medical malpractice, consider hiring legal representation to assist you during this difficult time. The experienced lawyers at Ronaldson & Kuchler want to help you establish peace of mind that both you and your child are getting the help and justice you deserve.

Any contact or glasses wearer knows that vision troubles are not only uncomfortable, irritating and disabling, but expensive. While contacts are comfortable and glasses are fashionable, having a visual impairment is anything but glamorous, especially when complications occur. Contacts can become dry or itchy; they can fall out or tear—causing much discomfort on the cornea. Glasses can break, become scratched, out of style or even lost. Luckily, new form of vision enhancement was developed after years of battling vision correctors—LASIK surgery.

LASIK stands for “laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.” And while associating a laser with your eyeball may make you nervous, it is a painless procedure and usually does not take longer than 10 minutes! Patients are awake during the procedure but receive numbing eye drops to avoid feeling any discomfort, and may receive a mild oral sedative.

The procedure works is as follows: the surgeon will use an instrument called a microkeratome to create a thin, circular flap across the cornea. A laser can also be used to create the flap. The surgeon folds the hinged flap out of the way, and with an excimer laser, begins removing corneal tissue to reshape the cornea. When the cornea is reshaped the right way, light is better focused onto the retina, providing clearer vision than before. The surgeon lays the flap over the place where the corneal tissue was removed (Allaboutvision.com).

The procedure’s length depends on the severity of the eye prescription–the higher the prescription, the longer the procedure. Both eyes can be treated in the same day.

LASIK outcomes may vary. 20/20 vision can be achieved. Sometimes it is only 20/40, which is still perfect vision according to driving laws. Post-surgery complications can occur such as infection, regression or presbyopia. Regression is when you can see perfectly post-surgery, but then notice a gradual worsening of vision over time. An enhancement surgery can be performed to “touch up” the regressing eye. Presbyopia can occur with age as near vision becomes difficult. Reading glasses may be necessary for those above age 40 after the procedure (Allaboutvision.com).

Should you or a loved one be the victim of a medical malpractice LASIK procedure, please consider legal representation to help you achieve peace of mind during this most unfortunate time. The attorneys at Ronaldson & Kuchler are experienced in medical malpractice cases concerning LASIK eye surgery and will help not only your sight but sense of hope.

The wish of every expectant parent is to have a healthy baby. Parents put their trust in doctors and nurses, hoping for a complication-free delivery. Unfortunately, not all birth stories go as planned. In some cases, birthing complications result in lifelong mental retardation and disability. A baby experiencing a lack of oxygen during the delivery process can sustain devastating physical and neurological injury, such as cerebral palsy. A baby diagnosed with cerebral palsy suffers from a brain injury that damages its motor skills like walking, talking and playing. Most cases of cerebral palsy are lifelong, and while it cannot worsen, there is no cure. Treatment for cerebral palsy is lifelong as well, and could be approached in many different ways depending on the child’s symptoms, side effects and severity level.

A child suffering from C.P. will experience, in varying degrees, symptoms such as involuntary movement, seizures, mental retardation, difficulty with fine motor skills and maintaining balance, problems with vision, hearing, speech and learning.

To aid contracted muscles, a physician may prescribe muscle relaxants like diazepam, baclofen, dantrolene and tizanidine according to Mayoclinic.com. Children diagnosed with cerebral palsy may also receive botox injections directly into spastic muscles, a common symptom of cerebral palsy.

Many different therapies are available for children with cerebral palsy. Physical therapy will aid your child in bettering their balance, flexibility, strength and motor development. Occupational therapy will promote your child’s participation in daily activities at home and at school. Speech therapy teaches a child to communicate clearly or with sign language (mayoclinic.com).

Staying supportive of your child during this most unfortunate time will help both you and your child cope with the disabling condition. Remember to encourage all efforts at independence—no matter how big or small. Always speak on your child’s behalf and be an advocate during their time of need. Never hesitate to ask questions or seek council from doctors, therapists and teachers. Also, finding a supportive community can greatly aid you and your coping child. By joining a support group or seeking counseling services, the burden of this time can be adequately shared and cared for.

Some support facilities and professionals to aid both you and your child during this difficult time include:

Center for Enriched Living
280 Saunders Road
Riverwoods, Illinois 60015
phone: 847-948-7001
fax: 847-948-7621
e-mail: cel@interaccess.com
web: www.centerforenrichedliving.org

“THE CENTER for Enriched Living is a year-round social center for people of all ages with developmental disabilities. Programs, planned and implemente are designed to enhance the quality of life for people with a primary diagnosis of mental retardation.

4MYCHILD. Help and Hope for Life

http://www.cerebralpalsy.org/

“Our mission is to provide you with the most comprehensive resource and compassionate voice for all things related to caring for a child with Cerebral Palsy, Erb’s Palsy, and other neurological injuries.”

American Academy for CP and Developmental Medicine
6300 North River Road Ste. 727
Rosemount, IL 60018-4226
Phone: (847) 698-1635

Cerebral Palsy Resources

http://www.cerebral-palsy-web.org/resources.htm

Easter Seals
230 West Monroe Street
Suite 1800
Chicago, IL   60606-4802
info@easter-seals.org
http://www.easter-seals.org
Tel: 312-726-6200 800-221-6827
Fax: 312-726-1494

”Provides services to help children and adults with disabilities and/or special needs as well as support to their families. Supports the National AgrAbility Project, a program for farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers with disabilities.”

CP of the Blackhawk Region
7399 Forest Hills Road
Rockford, IL 61111
Phone: (815) 282-8824
Fax: (815) 282-8835
E-mail: ucpbr@AOL.com
Counties Covered: Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, JoDaviess, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Streetephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago

Cerebral Palsy of Mississippi Valley
550 30th Avenue, Suite 1
Moline, IL 61265
Phone: (309) 797-7046
TDD: (309) 797-817
Serves Western IL and Scott County, Iowa

Should your child be the victim of medical malpractice resulting in cerebral palsy, consider hiring legal assistance to receive the justice and peace of mind you deserve. The lawyers at Ronaldson and Kuchler understand the feelings of pain and hopelessness that result from medical malpractice incidents. Let us help you and your child during this most unfortunate time.

What could make an already devastating motor vehicle accident worse? When the other motor vehicle is a truck.

Filing a law suit after a trucking accident means not only fighting 18 wheels, but a team of highly trained investigators, lawyers and insurance representatives doing everything in their power to give you minimal compensation.

Most trucks are used for commercial purposes—meaning they are transporting goods for another company—so, the auto accident becomes a matter between you and the lawyer representing the transported goods. Knowing this may make you feel like David versus Goliath, but rest assured that hiring a qualified personal injury lawyer will be the stone in the sling shot against the giant.

After a truck accident, trucking insurance companies and investigators immediately go to work cleaning up the accident, leaving you—the victim—very little time to react and consider your options. It is during this time that you should consider hiring a lawyer and DO NOT accept compensation until speaking with an attorney. Waiting too long to find representation could mean loss of evidence to defend your case resulting in a loss of money to accommodate your injury.

Having an attorney assures investigation at the scene of the accident to evaluate all aspects of the accident such as skid marks, debris, fluid stains, location of impact and damaged vehicle parts (Personal Injury Claims for Large Truck Accidents, AVVO).

Should you or a loved one be the victim of a trucking accident, contact Ronaldson and Kuchler. We’re here to help you during your most unfortunate time. Let us fight the battle for you.

It’s 5:15, your shift was over 15 minutes ago and you have a train to catch. You run out of your office, catch the elevator going down, take your first step off the elevator onto the ground level when suddenly—slip!—you’ve fallen backward and bumped your head on the granite floor. Still determined to catch your train, you make a quick recovery and continue running to the train station.

5:34—you made it!! You take your seat on the train and finally relax when you start to feel a headache coming on. You pop 2 ibuprofen, thinking it will pass. 15 minutes later you start feeling a bit dizzy and your vision starts to blur—you still have a headache. You start rubbing your head when you realize you can’t remember much about the end of your day. Did I lock my office? Is my computer off? When did I leave?

Headache, confusion, sensory problems, and amnesia of events immediately before an accident are all common symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury or TBI. Unfortunately, most people who experience a mild brain injury disregard it and continue with their routine like the person described. While 75% of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) a year are a mild form, any head injury can sustain future affects and require immediate medical attention, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention.

Traumatic brain injuries are the direct result of a sudden blow to the head, causing the brain to collide with the inside of the skull. The trauma of this accident can bruise the brain, tear nerve fibers and cause bleeding. The most common causes of TBI are falls, assault, motor vehicle accidents and direct strikes to the head.

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury each year.

Because so many TBI are mild, medical care is often disregarded. However, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune, recent studies show that victims of TBI are eight times more likely than the general population to suffer from clinical depression a year after the accident.

Also, “young people who suffer concussions are at greater risk of long-term physical and mental consequences, lawmakers were told Thursday at a hearing on head injuries to high school athletes” according to the Chicago Sun Times. This information is daunting because males ages 15-24 are the most likely to suffer a TBI.

The long term effects of any TBI can greatly affect your future state of mind and health, medical attention is imperative after any collision involving your head.

If you believe yourself to be a victim of a brain injury, consider your symptoms, which range from physical to psychological effects. Signs and symptoms of a mild brain injury, or concussion, can include the following: brief unconsciousness, headache, confusion, mood changes, dizziness, amnesia of events immediately before the accident, and sensory problems such as blurry vision or bad taste in the mouth. Moderate to severe brain injury signs and symptoms include: seizures, slurred speech, persistent headaches, profound confusion, numbness of extremities and an inability to awaken from sleep.

Because children may be unable to communicate their symptoms, look for the following behaviors: refusal to eat, loss of interest in a favorite toy, altered sleep patterns and school behavior, crankiness.

TBI can also cause epilepsy and can increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’ disease and other brain disorders that come with age, victims of any brain trauma should consult a medical expert immediately and take careful precautions to make a full recovery.

Be kind to your body after a brain injury and give yourself the recovery time you need with lots of rest and time before returning to usual activities and routines. Avoid activities that could result in another blow to the head because repeated TBI injuries within a short period of time can result in fatality.

Consult a health care physician before operating a vehicle, bicycle, or machinery and avoid drugs and alcohol until approved by a physician.
A brain injury is no small accident. Help yourself or your loved one and receive a medical attention before it’s too late.

Victims of a traumatic brain injury should consider consulting a legal representative if the accident was due to a car crash, medical malpractice, truck accident or another form of unlawful injury. Ronaldson & Kuchler personal injury lawyers want to help you look into the matter and ensure that your claim receives the best representation.

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