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In many cases of traumatic or complicated labour birth injury compensation should not be pursued until the full extent of any injury has revealed itself and it can be adjudged as to whether or not appropriate action was taken by healthcare professionals during and immediately after the birth.
In July 2009 an article appeared in a healthcare journal that followed the study of babies with mild facial nerve paralysis caused during labour. It hoped to assess whether immediate treatment of the injury using drugs or surgery was appropriate.
The study had been carried out by Doctors at McGill University in Montreal, Canada where they reviewed the records of 28 occurrences of facial nerve birth injury caused by the use of forceps in delivery from 1989 to 2005.
All the cases studied were classed as mild to moderate palsy (inability to move muscles) and only one of the cases received treatment. The authors noted that one of the babies received a 14-day treatment of the oral corticosteroid (a class of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex) prednisone.
All of the babies were given long-term follow-up care and all recovered fully after an average period of 24 days.
The study discussed the fact that facial nerve palsy is almost always attributed to the use of forceps during delivery, but that 33 per cent of cases occur in spontaneous vaginal delivery. The palsy occurs when the blade of the forceps, or the mother's pelvic bone, press on the baby's head close to or on the facial nerves.
The authors concluded, "There is discrepancy in the literature on the investigations and/or treatment options to be undertaken in facial palsy owing to birth trauma,"
The authors therefore suggest that whereas some practitioners recommend surgery to explore the nerve, current results add to evidence that the recovery rate from mild to moderate facial nerve paralysis after birth is high when left untreated and followed up with observation only.
They wrote, "This confirms that corticosteroid treatment or surgery should be withheld in neonates presenting with uncomplicated facial nerve palsy resulting from forceps trauma."
YouClaim and birth injury compensation
Any medical intervention carries a risk of injury, none more so than birth intervention such as a forceps delivery. If you feel that healthcare during your labour was negligent and has caused you or your baby birth injury, you may be able to make a compensation claim.
We understand the pain and distress of birth injury claims; our medical negligence solicitors are amongst the most experienced in the country and are governed by the regulations of the Law Society assuring you piece of mind at all times regarding their professionalism.
Whilst the complexities of birth injury medical negligence claims prevent us from stating that you will not be charged any legal fees, we assure you that we will advise you of any charges before you commit to them and in a won case we will always reimburse you.
If you wish to discuss a birth injury compensation claim, please call our confidential helpline now for free on 0800 10 757 95 or you can request a more convenient time when we can call you back. Alternatively, fill in the online claim form and we will look into the details before we call you to discuss it further. Above all, at YouClaim we are here to help.
