This procedure usually involves a small incision in the front of the neck. The ruptured disc is removed from between the vertebrae. Bone graft is packed into the empty opening between the vertebrae. Over time, the bone graft normally grows into a solid unit. Often, the surgeon may place hardware, including a titanium plate, for further stability and to promote fusion. This instrumentation is almost always permanent.

The actual surgery usually takes between one and four hours. After discharge from the hospital, normally within twenty four to forty-eight hours, a neck brace is usually required for several weeks. Follow up visits typically include x-rays where the surgeon verifies the placement of the hardware. The doctor will also inquire whether any of the pre-operative symptoms such as pain, numbness, weakness or burning subsided. Over time, most patients can expect that their symptoms will be reduced by this procedure.

There are risks of an anterior cervical discectomy.

The risks include infection, excess bleeding, transient or permanent hoarseness, non-union of the bone graft to the vertebrae, anesthesia complications, death, and neurological damage. In some instances, these complications can occur under the best of care. Other times, these complications may be the result of malpractice. Selecting a knowledgeable, experienced, and skillful surgeon can substantially reduce the risk of these complications.

Erbs palsy or brachial plexus injuries usually occur during natural deliveries.

When an infant is too large to pass through the mother’s vaginal canal, the baby’s shoulder can become lodged behind the mother’s pubic bone after the head has been delivered. If the doctor elects a vaginal delivery in this instance rather than a c-section, the baby may suffer a brachial plexus injury if physician improperly pulls or twists the baby’s head which can stretch, tear or otherwise the nerves.

When a baby suffers a brachial plexus injury, qualified pediatric neurologists, rehabilitation physicians, and physical occupational therapists can help combat the effects this injury. Unfortunately, this level of care often requires a tremendous amount of time, money, and effort. If you believe your child may have suffered a brachial plexus injury or has Erbs Palsy because of medical malpractice, please contact our Chicago office for a free consultation.

Birth injuries can occur at any point during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and immediately after delivery. Some injuries will resolve over time, while other will be permanent.

Examples of permanent birth injuries include:

• brain damage
• cerebral palsy
• erbs palsy or brachial plexus injury
• fractures
• nerve injuries
• spinal cord injuries

The various conditions that can lead to birth injuries include:

• fetal distress
• preeclampsia
• hypertension
• meconium aspiration
• oligohydromnios
• maternal infection
• pre-term labor
• breech delivery
• nucal cord
• prolapse cord

Medical errors that can cause birth injuries include:

• failure to recognize or appreciate fetal distress
• failure to order a timely cesarean section
• inadequate suctioning of meconium / meconium aspiration syndrome
• failure to recognize or treat preeclampsia / hypertension
• poor communication amongst the medical team

Chicago Medical Malpractice Birth Injury Lawyer

For most people, the only recourse is to consult a medical malpractice attorney to determine whether the child’s injuries resulted from malpractice. In that instance, the attorney can seek to recover compensation necessary to help ensure the child receives the best possible care for the future. If you believe your child may have sustained a serious birth injury as a result of medical malpractice, we invite you to contact the Chicago Medical Malpractice Office of Kroot Law, LLC, for a free consultation.

Read the Latest News about Birth Injuries »

Profound Consequences

Depending on the nature, extent and duration of fetal distress, irreversible brain damage may occur. The degree of brain damage is dependent, in part, on the extent to which blood flow and/or oxygen flow that is interfered with. The term “hypoxia” is used whenever the brain or other tissue is not receiving adequate oxygen. This can occur despite normal blood flow if the oxygen content of the blood is reduced below normal levels. The term “ischemia” describes the condition when the amount of blood profusion to the brain or other tissue is reduced from normal levels. The terms “asphyxia” or “hypoxic-ischemic” brain injury describes the events that ultimate result in permanent brain damage and neurological problems such as cerebral palsy.

The consequences of irreversible brain damage on the child and the child’s family are profound. Depending on degree of brain damage, the child may require constant or near constant supervision for the rest of his or her life, along with extensive therapy and other medical care. When brain damage is caused by medical malpractice, an experienced birth injury attorney can seek the necessary compensation needed provide the best possible care for the child’s future. If you believe your child has a birth injury because of medical malpractice, contact Chicago Medical Malpractice Office for a free consultation.

Closed fractures occur where the skin remains intact. Open fractures involve wounds that communicate with the fracture and may expose the bone to contamination. Simple fractures are occur along one line, dividing the bone into two pieces. Comminuted or multi-fragmentary fractures occur when the bone splits into multiple pieces. A simple, closed fracture is considered easier to treat and carries a better prognosis than an open, contaminated fracture.

Fractures frequently occur during the course of a serious auto accident, fall, or other traumatic event. They are usually diagnosed by x-ray. A qualified health professional will discuss the treatment options for a fracture which may or may not involve surgery. The prognosis depends on a variety of factors including the nature and extent of the fracture.

If you believe you or a loved suffered a fracture or broken bone because of another person’s negligence, please contact our Chicago Personal Injury Office for a free consultation.