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A birth injury to the brachial plexus muscles may have a variety of consequences, some of which are more severe, and more common, than others; one of the rarer conditions is Horner's syndrome.
This is an eye problem stemming from a number of causes, including nerve blockage as a result of trauma to the neck and shoulder muscles of a baby if it is pulled from the mother's womb negligently by undue pressure on an arm.
Horner's syndrome was first identified by a Swiss ophthalmologist who recognised nerve damage as affecting the involuntary nerves serving the sight and facial muscles. Apart from a birth accident, there are a wide variety of causes of the symptoms, only a few of which are common in all cases.
The affected side of the face is likely to have partial drooping of the upper eyelid, slight raising of the lower lid and anhidrosis (reduction in sweating). The impression that the eye is sunk in, the pupil is smaller and the conjunctiva has a bloodshot appearance can also occur. Occasionally, flushing may also be present.
Because the syndrome is defined by its cause of disruption to the neural pathways i.e. the nerves connecting the spinal cord to the various upper parts of the body in the area of the neck and shoulders, birth trauma with injury to lower brachial plexus muscles will only occur in the second neuronal pathway.
To make a diagnosis, a detailed medical history and tests will need to be carried out to determine if Horner's syndrome has resulted from a birth injury rather than because of another accident, disease or an inherited condition.
Unlike other forms of disability associated with injury to the brachial plexus muscles at birth, a sufferer of Horner's syndrome is not often offered treatment because the condition is sufficiently mild, usually only leading to a slight eyelid droop.
However, if the syndrome is linked to another problem, such as Erb's palsy, suitable surgery may alleviate some of the difficulties.
Parents who discover their child has Horner's syndrome, which they believe is a result of brachial plexus injury due to clinical negligence by professional health staff, may wish to consider making a personal injury claim on behalf of the family for suffering and disability.
YouClaim may help with Horners syndrome compensation
Although Horner's syndrome is a rare condition when linked to a birth injury, that fact will not stop the expert personal injury lawyers of YouClaim from offering the best professional assistance in obtaining justified compensation for medical negligence.
At all times, our clients can be assured of a confidential, sympathetic and friendly service, backed by monitoring by the Solicitors Regulation Agency to give you peace of mind.
Operating throughout the UK, our online presence means you can communicate with us quickly and easily wherever you live.
To find out about our special help for victims of birth accidents and injury, including sufferers of Horner's syndrome, you can call free on 0800 10 757 95 or use our webform to send us some brief details and we'll get back to you.
