When Shoulder Dystocia Leads to Brachial Plexus Injuries—Legal Insights
Shoulder dystocia is one of the most feared emergencies in obstetrics. It occurs when the baby’s shoulder becomes lodged behind the mother’s pelvic bone after the head is delivered, preventing safe delivery. While many cases can be managed with proper maneuvers, delays or excessive force can lead to brachial plexus injuries, leaving a child with permanent weakness or paralysis.
For attorneys, shoulder dystocia cases raise critical questions about whether the injury was a rare complication—or the result of negligence and improper technique. At Lexcura Summit Medical-Legal Consulting, we help attorneys uncover the truth through meticulous record analysis, timelines, and expert medical review.
What Is Shoulder Dystocia?
Shoulder dystocia complicates about 0.2–3% of vaginal births, but the risks increase with:
Maternal diabetes or obesity
Macrosomia (large baby)
Post-term pregnancies
Operative vaginal delivery (forceps, vacuum)
Prior shoulder dystocia history
When it occurs, rapid action is essential. The standard of care requires physicians and nurses to perform specific maneuvers—such as the McRoberts maneuver, suprapubic pressure, or rotational techniques—to relieve the obstruction safely.
How Brachial Plexus Injuries Happen
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that controls movement and sensation in the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries often occur when:
Excessive traction is applied to the infant’s head or neck
The proper maneuvers are delayed or not attempted
Improper use of vacuum or forceps increases injury risk
Documentation fails to reflect the sequence of events accurately
The result may be Erb’s palsy, Klumpke’s palsy, or permanent paralysis.
Proving Liability in Shoulder Dystocia Cases
In litigation, attorneys must establish that the injury was not simply unavoidable, but rather caused by deviations from accepted standards of care. Key records include:
Labor and delivery notes documenting the dystocia and interventions used
Electronic fetal monitoring strips (EFM) showing distress during the event
Nursing records detailing maternal positioning and maneuvers
Operative reports if forceps or vacuum were used
Newborn assessments documenting immediate arm weakness
An experienced medical-legal team can connect these records into a persuasive narrative.
How Lexcura Summit Supports These Cases
At Lexcura Summit, our team of 200+ board-certified clinicians provides litigation-ready support for shoulder dystocia malpractice cases:
Medical Chronologies – Reconstructing the minute-by-minute timeline of labor, dystocia, and delivery maneuvers.
Narrative Summaries – Explaining how excessive force or delayed response contributed to brachial plexus injury.
Life Care Plans – For children with lifelong impairments requiring therapy, surgery, or adaptive care.
Expert Screening & Reports – Helping attorneys quickly identify viable cases and prepare for trial.
Defense & Rebuttal Support – Clarifying complex medical issues for defense teams as well.
Our reports are delivered within 7 days (rush in 2–3), are fully HIPAA-compliant, and support attorneys nationwide.
Key Takeaways
Shoulder dystocia is an obstetric emergency requiring immediate, skilled intervention.
Brachial plexus injuries often result from excessive traction or delayed maneuvers.
Attorneys prove liability by analyzing delivery records, EFM strips, and newborn assessments.
Lexcura Summit delivers chronologies, summaries, and life care plans to build stronger cases.
Contact Lexcura Summit
If you’re handling a shoulder dystocia malpractice case, we can help strengthen your claim.
Lexcura Summit Medical-Legal Consulting, LLC
📞 (352) 703-0703
🌐 www.lexcura-summit.com
