What kinds of birth injuries cause Infant Palsy?
Many types of birth injuries or birth defects contribute to the development of infant palsy. Brachial palsy is a result of an injury to the brachial plexus, a group of nerves that controls the arm and hands. This injury often occurs when the mother has trouble delivering the baby’s shoulder (a situation called shoulder dystocia). When the nerve is torn, permanent nerve damage may occur, causing the baby to lose the ability to move its arm. Physical therapy is one possible treatment of this condition. Caput succedaneum occurs when tissues in the baby’s scalp swell or bruise while the baby travels through the birth canal. A baby is more likely to experience Caput when it is delivered via vacuum extraction. In normal cases, the swelling or bruising disappears a few days after birth. Another type of injury involves forceps lacerations or marks. When forceps are used during delivery, they can leave temporary cuts on the baby’s head or face. Babies delivered via vacuum extraction are especia