Shoulder Dystocia: When the Medical Team Isn’t Properly Trained or Prepared

Shoulder dystocia can be a serious childbirth complication. This condition occurs when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery. Labor can stall, causing significant distress and increasing the risk of injury to both mother and child. A care team’s failure to respond timely and appropriately can cause severe, permanent injuries.

Identifying and Responding to Shoulder Dystocia

Shoulder dystocia is an obstetric emergency that can increase the risk of injuries to the mother, including postpartum hemorrhage, uterine rupture, damage to the mother’s bladder, and severe perineal tears. It can also lead to birth injuries, including brachial plexus injuries (nerve damage), fractures of the clavicle or humerus, and hypoxia (lack of oxygen). Hypoxia can cause severe brain damage, cerebral palsy, and other permanent injuries.

Labor and delivery teams must be able to recognize shoulder dystocia and respond immediately. Proper training in release and internal rotation maneuvers and other interventions can be the difference between a safe delivery and a catastrophic outcome. In some cases, the care team may need to perform an emergency cesarean section (C-section). Knowing how to respond and taking immediate action are critical to prevent injury.

Poor communication, failure to closely monitor both the mother and her child, or inadequate training can lead to devastating injuries. Failing to recognize the condition and execute timely, appropriate responses can amount to negligence under Michigan law.

Brachial Plexus Injuries Related to Shoulder Dystocia

Shoulder dystocia is the primary cause of brachial plexus injuries, which occur in one to two births per 1,000. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves starting in the neck and branching down into the arms. It controls the muscles in a person’s shoulders, arms, and hands, enabling both motor control and sensory functions.

Brachial plexus injuries vary in severity, depending on the extent of the nerve damage. Stretched or compressed nerves may heal on their own, but torn nerves require surgical repair. If the nerves tear away from the spinal cord, they usually cannot be repaired or reattached. Depending on the location of the tear, the child may have permanent weakness, loss of feeling, and paralysis in their shoulders, arms, or hands. 

Scar tissue from damaged brachial plexus nerves can also cause tight knots called neuromas. If they press on the child’s brachial nerves, neuromas can cause pain, weakness, and loss of feeling. Surgery may be necessary to remove neuromas and prevent them from re-forming.

Predicting Shoulder Dystocia

Several known risk factors increase the risk of shoulder dystocia occurring during delivery. Medical professionals must be on high alert when these risk factors are present and ready to respond appropriately. These include:

• Large birth weight.
• Obesity or excessive weight gain during pregnancy.
• Maternal diabetes.
• History of shoulder dystocia in previous births.
• Older maternal age (over 35 years).
• Epidural anesthesia.
• Breech (feet-first) fetal position.
• Multiple pregnancy (e.g., twins).

Many other factors can contribute to shoulder dystocia, but the condition is often unpredictable. Labor and delivery teams must be prepared to recognize and treat this emergency when it occurs. Hospitals and birthing centers must have adequate facilities for swift, appropriate action.

Pursuing a Michigan Medical Malpractice Claim

Not all adverse outcomes are caused by malpractice. To succeed on a Michigan medical malpractice claim, you must prove that a healthcare provider fell short of their duty of care, causing injuries to you or your child.

In the context of shoulder dystocia injuries, a provider’s breach of their legal duty might involve:

• Failing to identify and monitor risk factors during pregnancy.
• Inadequate staffing or training in emergency obstetric maneuvers.
• Delayed identification of the condition during labor and delivery.
• Failing to take appropriate responsive measures.
• Improper fetal monitoring.
• Delayed C-section.
• Using excessive force, resulting in preventable injury.

Michigan malpractice lawsuits have many specific procedural requirements, including limitations on how long you have to file your claim. Consult an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible to discuss your situation and preserve your rights. 

Recovering Compensation and Protecting Public Health

Hospitals and healthcare providers have a duty to anticipate complications and respond appropriately. When they fail to do so, the law gives injured families a path to justice. Shoulder dystocia may not be predictable in each case, but negligence in failing to prepare and responding to it is inexcusable. Pursuing a claim for money compensation when there is medical negligence can help your family access the resources you need to provide medical support for your child. It can also help ensure other families receive proper care for this birth injury.

If your child sustained injuries due to shoulder dystocia and you suspect that improper handling or lack of preparedness was to blame, consult an experienced Michigan medical malpractice attorney. They can review your medical records, consult with experts, and help you understand whether you have a valid claim.

If you or your child has been injured due to mismanagement of shoulder dystocia during delivery, the labor and delivery attorneys at Sommers Schwartz, P.C., are here to help. Contact our office today for a free consultation to explore your options under Michigan law.