Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog

The most common type of bain injury is a traumatic brain injury. A Traumatic Brain Injury (or TBI) usually occurs when sudden trauma to the head causes damage to the brain. These injuries can stem from a "closed head injury" where there is a sudden and violent blow to the head, a "penetrating head injury" where an object pierces the skull and enters the brain tissue, or a "diffuse head injury" where the brain is violently shaken.

Signs and Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

The signs and symptoms of a TBI do not necessary occur immediately. With a mild TBI, the patient may remain conscious or loose consciousness for a few seconds. The signs and symptoms of a mild TBI include:

• Headache
• Mental confusion
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Sensory changes like blurred vision, ringing ears, or a bad taste in the mouth
• Fatigue or lethargy
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Behavioral or mood changes
• Difficulty with memory, concentration, or calculation

If these symptoms worsen, they may indicate a more severe TBI.

With a moderate to severe TBI, the patient may show the same signs and symptoms of a mild TBI, but also exhibit any of the following:

• Loss of consciousness
• Personality change
• A severe, persistent, or worsening headache
• Repeated vomiting or nausea
• Seizures
• Inability to awaken
• Dilation of one or both pupils
• Slurred speech
• Weakness or numbness in the extremities
• Loss of coordination
• Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation

Children with TBI may lack the communication abilities to report their symptoms. Instead, they may refuse to eat (or nurse), appear listless, and/or cranky.

Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

About half of all TBIs are due to transportation accidents involving automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. For persons 75 and older, falls represent the majority of TBIs. Military men and women serving in war zones are also frequent victims of TBI. Gunshot wounds to the head have the highest rate of death, ninety percent of which are fatal.

Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries

The effects of TBI vary widely and may involve physical effects, cognitive effects, and emotional effects. Physical effects may include headaches, movement disorders, seizures, difficulty walking, sexual dysfunction, lethargy and/or coma. Cognitive effects may include changes in judgment, ability to reason, memory, and mathematical ability. Emotional effects may include mood swings, poor impulse control, agitation, low frustration threshold, clinical depression, and psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. Infection is also potentially serious complication from TBI.

Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Anyone who may have a TBI should receive medical treatment as soon as possible. The first medical treatment for TBI patients often begins when paramedics arrive or when the patient arrives into a hospital emergency room. Normally, there is little that can be done to reverse the initial brain injury. Instead, medical personnel usually focus on preventing any further damage which includes managing proper oxygen supply, blood flow, and blood pressure.

Imaging tests can help doctors reach a TBI diagnosis, treatment plan, and prognosis. Common TBI imaging and diagnostic testing are X-ray, CT, and/or MRI. Other tests include cerebral angiography, electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial Doppler ultrasound, and single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT).

In some instances, TBI patients experiencing brain swelling and fluid accumulation within the brain space. When this occurs, there is no place for swollen tissues to expand and no adjoining tissues to absorb excess fluid. This leads to increased pressure called intracranial pressure (ICP). Depending on the extent of the pressure, severe brain damage can result.

To measure a patient' ICP, doctors insert a probe or catheter into the skull which is connected to a monitor. Depending upon the amount of ICP, doctors may perform a ventriculostomy where cerebral fluid (CSF) is drained from the ventricles to bring down the pressure. Medication may also prove beneficial. In extreme cases, a decompressive craniotomy may be performed where part of the skull is removed to reduce severely high ICP. In patients with severe TBI, nearly half will undergo some form of surgery to remove or repair hematomas (ruptured blood vessels) or contusions (bruised brain tissue).

Rehabilitation and Prognosis for Traumatic Brain Injuries

Rehabilitation for patients with a TBI is a critical part of their recovery process. After the patient is stabilized, they may be transferred for rehabilitation therapy as an inpatient or outpatient depending on their condition and other variables. Patients are usually best managed in a facility that has a specialty focus in Brain Injury Rehabilitation. These patients may often need to relearn basic skills, including walking, talking, and bathing. The overall goal is to improve their ability to function as independently as possible. A TBI patient' prognosis, including the extent of any disabilities, depends largely on the severity of the injury, the location of the injury, and their general health.

Posted by: Chicago Personal Injury Attorney Jason M. Kroot of Kroot Law, LLC

Cerebral palsy represents a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement, muscle coordination, and balance. The condition does not worsen over time, but its symptoms can change. Although cerebral palsy affects muscle movement, it is not caused by problems in the muscles or nerves. Instead, cerebral palsy is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movements.

Signs of Cerebral Palsy

The majority of children with cerebral palsy are born with it, even though it may not be detected until months or years later. The early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before a child reaches age 3. Some of the symptoms include:

• Lack of head control
• Poor motor development
• Delays in walking or crawling
• Muscle abnormalities (stiff or over-relaxed muscles)
• Loss of coordination and balance
• Difficulty in coordinating and writing
• Involuntary spasms and movements
• Problems with hearing, sight, and speech
• Problems with bladder and bower control
• Slow general development
• Seizures

The most common symptoms of cerebral palsy are a lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia); stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity); walking with one foot or leg dragging; walking on the toes, a crouched gait, or a "scissored" gait; and muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy. The part of the brain that is damaged determines what parts of the body are affected.

The Causes of Cerebral Palsy

There are many possible causes of the brain damage. Some causes affect how the child's brain develops during the first 6 months of pregnancy. These causes include genetic conditions and problems with blood supply to the brain. Other causes of cerebral palsy occur after the brain has developed. These causes can happen during later pregnancy, delivery ("Congenital CP"), or the first years of the child's life ("Acquired CP"). They include bacterial meningitis and other infections, bleeding in the brain, lack of oxygen, severe jaundice, and head injury. Cerebral Palsy disorders are caused by faulty development of or damage to motor areas in the brain that disrupt the brain's ability to control movement and posture.

A variety of conditions can lead to brain injury, including any one of the following:

Genetic conditions and blood supply problems to the brain: these can affect how the child's brain develops during the first 6 months of pregnancy.

• Oxygen shortage: if the oxygent supply to the brain is severly low at the time of birth, the infant may suffer a type of brain injury called hypoxic-ishemic encephalopathy.
• Rh incompatability: a blood condition that causes the mother's immune cells to attack the fetus, resulting in jaundice.
• Severe jaundice: this can occur in a child during the first weeks after birth.
• Toxicity: drug or alcohol use during pregnancy can result in brain damage.
• Kidney and urinary tract infections: these infections, if severe and prolonged, in the mother can lead to brain damage within the fetus.
• Exposure of the expectant mother to certain infections: these infections include rubella, toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus.
• Severe physical trauma to the mother during pregnancy: auto accidents, bad falls, and other traumatic forces can cause brain damage.

Acquired cerebral palsy results from brain damage in the first few months to years of life and can be caused by conditions. These include brain infections like encephalitis and meningitis can cause brain damage, along with head injuries, automobile accidents, and child abuse.

Medical Errors That Result in Cerebral Palsy / Brain Damage

Medical mistakes made by doctors and other healthcare professionals during delivery can include one or more of the following:

• Failure to recognize fetal distress
• Failure to order a C-Section in a timely manner
• Failure to detect a prolapsed umbilical cord reducing oxygen supply
• Improper use of a vacuum extractor
• Improper use of delivery forceps
• Failure to properly respond to the baby' vital signs
• Failure to properly suction the baby (ie., meconium aspiration)
• The failure to recognize and treat seizures following delivery
• Failure to diagnose and treat jaundice or meningitis

The following incidents may indicate the possibility of a medical malpractice claim against the hospital, doctors, and/or other healthcare staff:

• The use of resuscitation (CPR) after birth
• Emergency delivery with forceps, or by c-section
• Special testing after birth, such as an MRI scan, CT scan or brain scan

Treatment of Cerebral Palsy and Prognosis

Cerebral palsy cannot be cured, but various treatment forms can improve a child' capabilities and overall quality of life. Generally, the earlier treatment begins the greater the chance the child has of overcoming many developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the tasks that challenge them. Treatment may include one or more of the following: physical therapy; occupational therapy; speech therapy; drugs to control seizures, alleviate pain, or relax muscle spasms; hyperbaric oxygen; the use of medication to relax contracting muscles; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices; wheelchairs and rolling walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers.

Consulting a Medical Malpractice Lawyer – Cerebral Palsy or Brain Damage

Although doctors, nurses, and other health professionals invariable try their very best, medical mistakes can and do occur. Families with children suffering from a birth injury should consider contacting a medial malpractice attorney experienced in birth injury cases. Medical mistakes are responsible for many birth injuries. The time, effort, and expense needed to care for a brain damage child can be overwhelming.

Posted by: Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney Jason M. Kroot of Kroot Law, LLC

Normal human cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. During the early years in a person's life, normal cells divide more rapidly until the person becomes an adult. From adulthood, cells in most parts of the body divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells and to repair injuries.

Cancer Cells v. Normal Cells

Since cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are distinct from normal cells. Rather than dying, they outlive normal cells and continue to form new abnormal cells. Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. Usually, when DNA becomes damaged, the body is able to repair it. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired.

People can inherit damaged DNA. This explains how cancer can be inherited. However, in most cancer cases, a person's DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment such as smoking and other toxic substances.

How Cancer Forms

Cancer typically forms as a tumor. Some cancers (e.g., leukemia) do not form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood-forming organs which spread through other tissues where they grow. Cancer cells often travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process is called "metastasis." Regardless of where a cancer may spread, however, it is always named for the place it began. Thus, breast cancer that spreads to the liver is still called breast cancer, not liver cancer.

Benign Tumors v. Malignant Tumors

Not all tumors are cancerous. Benign (non-cancerous) tumors do not spread (or metastasize) to other parts of the body and are rarely life threatening. Malignant tumors are those that metastasize and are cancerous.

Different Types of Cancer

Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For example, lung cancer and breast cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. That is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their particular kind of cancer.

Importance of Diagnosing Cancer Early

The sooner cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the patient' prognosis. Finding cancer early often means treatment while it is still small and is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body. This usually means a better chance for a cure, particularly if initial treatment is surgery. For this reason, routine check ups can be critically important to diagnosing caner early. Aside from routine checkups, many doctor recommend that patients should report any of the following signs to their doctor immediately: extreme fatigue, a mass on the breast, unusual skin formations or discolorations, unexplained pain, and any other abnormalities.

Some cancers may be detected by before symptoms occur. For this reason, the American Cancer Society and other health groups recommend cancer related check ups and specific tests for cancer for people who do not have symptoms. Additional information on early detection tests may found in the American Cancer Society Guidelines for Early Detection of Cancer.

Posted by: Medical Malpractice Attorney Jason M. Kroot of Kroot Law, LLC

Brain damage may result in a variety of ways, including medical malpractice, traumatic brain injuries, and illness. Brain damage can occur be "diffuse" or "localized." Diffuse brain damage can result from prolonged hypoxia (shortage of oxygen to the brain), poisonous substances, medication errors and/or overdoses, and neurological illness. Localized or focal brain damage can occur from trauma, stroke, aneurysm, surgery, or neurological illness.

Brain Damage Caused by Medical Malpractice

Brain damage or brain injury from medical malpractice can occur under a variety of circumstances, including:

• Birth injuries from oxygen deprivation
• Oxygen deprivation during surgery
• Medication errors
• Improper administration or mointoring of anesthesia
• Failure to monitor vital signs and respond to poor vital signs
• Improper treatment of existing brain injury
• Slip and fall injury in hospital from inadequate monitoring

Whether medical malpractice caused the brain damage or whether it simply occurred as a bad outcome is often a complicated questions. To determine whether malpractice occurred, it is critical to consult a medical malpractice attorney who has the knowledge, skill, and experience to effectively investigation and prosecute complex medical malpractice cases involving brain damage.

Effects of Brain Damage

The effects of brain damage can vary widely and may involve physical effects, cognitive effects, and emotional effects. Physical effects may include headaches, movement disorders, seizures, difficulty walking, sexual dysfunction, lethargy and/or coma. Cognitive effects may include changes in judgment, ability to reason, memory, and mathematical ability. Emotional effects may include mood swings, poor impulse control, agitation, low frustration threshold, clinical depression, and psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.

Extent of Brain Damage and Prognosis

The extent and effect of brain damage is often assessed through the use of neurological examination, neuroimaging, and neuropsychological assessment. Brain damage can be temporary or permanent. The location of the brain injury, extent of the brain injury, and overall health of the patient are important factors for predicting a patient' prognosis.

Rehabilitation for patients with a brain injury is also an important part of their recovery process. After the patient is stabilized, they may be transferred for rehabilitation therapy as an inpatient or outpatient depending on their condition and other variables. Patients are usually best managed in a facility that has a specialty focus in Brain Injury Rehabilitation. These patients may often need to relearn basic skills, including walking, talking, and bathing. The overall goal is to improve their ability to function as independently as possible.

For children with brain injuries, the extent and nature of the damage may not become clear for years. The child' ability to receive the best possible care can be vital to their prognosis.

Posted by: Chicago Medial Malpractice Attorney Jason M. Kroot of Kroot Law, LLC

The spine is comprised of a series of connected bones called vertebrae. A disc is comprised of an out layer (or "annulus fibrosus") and gel like center (or "nucleous pulpulsa") which separates parts of the vertebrae from one another. In many ways, a disc acts like a cushion between the vertebrae. Trauma from an auto accident, fall or stressing event can cause the disc to herniated or rupture, where the outer layer tears and begins to leak the inner gel. In other instances, old age can cause disc to degenerate which may or may not cause pain.

When a Disc Ruptures or Herniates

If a disc ruptures or herniates, it can press on nerves in the spine causing pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in one or more extremities. For example, a herniated disc in the back or lumbar region can cause these symptoms down a leg (often called "sciatica"). A herniated disc in the neck can cause the same symptoms down an arm.

The typical course of treatment is a combination of medication and physical therapy. Sometimes, the symptoms from a herniated disc will resolve over time. Other times, these symptoms will not improve and may worsen. When conservative measures fail, an injection or surgery is often recommended.

The goal of surgery is to make the herniated disc stop pressing on and irritating the nerves that cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. A common surgical procedure for herniated disc is called a "discectomy" or "partial discectomy." During this procedure, all or part of the herniated disc is removed.

If you believe you or a loved one has suffered a herniated or ruptured disc because of another' negligence, please contact our Chicago Personal Injury Office for a free consultation.

Read the Latest News About Ruptured Disc Injuries »

A spinal cord injury is an injury or insult to the spinal cord that results in temporary or permanent change in feeling and/or mobility. The spinal cord doe not have to be severed for loss of function to occur. Common causes of spinal cord injuries are trauma or disease. Traumatic spinal cord injuries often result from auto accidents, falls, violence, and sports injuries. At 50%, auto accidents are, by far, the leading cause of spinal cord injuries.

Paraplegia v. Quadriplegia / Tetraplegia

Spinal cord injuries may result in Paraplegia or Tetraplegia (which has replaced the term Quadriplegia):

Paraplegia is an injury or impairment to the spinal cord affecting motor and/or sensory function of the lower limbs. The area of the spinal canal which is affected in paraplegia is either the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions.

Tetraplegia is an injury to the brain or spinal cord in the cervical region which affects all four extremities. Patients with tertraplegia experience paralysis in both the upper and lower limbs.

Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries

The precise effects of a spinal cord injury vary depending upon the type and level injury, and can be organized into two types:

Complete Injury: In a complete injury, there is no function below the "neurological" level; that is, the lowest level that has intact neurological function. If a person has some level below which there is no motor and sensory function, the injury is said to be "complete". Recent evidence suggests less than 5% of people with "complete" spinal cord injury recover locomotion.

Incomplete Injury: A person with an incomplete injury retains some sensation or movement below the level of the injury. The lowest spinal cord level is S4-5, representing the anal sphincter and peri-anal sensation. Thus, if a person is able to contract the anal sphincter voluntarily or feel peri-anal pinprick or touch, the injury is said to be "incomplete". Recent evidence suggests over 95% of people with "incomplete" spinal cord injury recover some locomotion.

Five Types of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries

Based on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) and the International Spinal Cord Injury Classification System, a traumatic spinal cord injury is classified into one of five types:

A - Indicates a "complete" spinal cord injury where no motor or sensory function is preserved in the sacral segments S4-S5. A complete injury is one in which there is some neurological below which there is no motor or sensory function. Since the S4-S5 segment is the lower segmental, absence of motor and sensory function indicates "complete" spinal cord injury.

B - Indicates an "incomplete" spinal cord injury where sensory but not motor function is preserved below the neurological level and includes the sacral segments S4-S5. This is typically a transient phase and if the person recovers any motor function below the neurological level, that person essentially becomes a motor incomplete, i.e. ASIA C or D.

C - Indicates an "incomplete" spinal cord injury where motor function is preserved below the neurological level and more than half of key muscles below the neurological level have a muscle grade of less than 3.

D - Indicates an "incomplete" spinal cord injury where motor function is preserved below the neurological level and at least half of the key muscles below the neurological level have a muscle grade of 3 or more.

E - Indicates "normal" where motor and sensory scores are normal. Note that it is possible to have spinal cord injury and neurological deficit with completely normal motor and sensory scores.

Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury

Medical experts agree immobilization is the first step in treating spinal cord injuries. Steroidal injections may also be given to the patient. These can reduce inflammation and swelling which can prevent further damage to the cells and tissue in the spinal cord.

Treatment from a well-qualified health professional is critically important for patients with spinal cord injuries. Health professionals that treatment spinal cord injury patients include neurosurgeons, neurologists, physiatrists, psychiatrists and psychologists, physical therapists and occupational therapists. Depending on the type of injuries, patients with spinal cord injuries may also require a respiratory therapist, speech therapist, nutritionist, special education teacher, and/or recreation therapist. Support groups can also greatly benefit those with spinal cord injuries.

When to Consult a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

If you or someone you know has suffered a spinal cord injury as result of another' negligence, malpractice, or other misconduct, it is important to consult an attorney experienced in handling spinal cord injury cases. For cases in Illinois, contact Chicago Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice attorney Jason M. Kroot of Kroot Law, LLC, for a free consultation.

A rotator cuff is comprised of four muscles. The tendons form a "cuff" of tissue over the upper part of the humerous (which is the ball of the shoulder joint). The rotator cuff allows one to move their arm in a circular fashion. This movement enables people to swim, throw a ball, and lift an item over our head.

How Rotator Cuffs Tears Occur

When humans age, the tissue that surrounds the tendons weakens and makes us susceptible to tearing. Repeated overhead movements can cause the tendon to tear. In addition, landing on the shoulder during a fall or other traumatic forces on to the shoulder can cause the tendon to tear. Although some tears are partial, others are complete.

Signs and Symptoms of a Torn Rotator Cuff

The most common signs and symptoms of a rotator cuff tear are pain, reduced range of motion, and weakness. Pain is normally experienced at the top and side of the shoulder. This pain is often more pronounced when the arm is raised, extended, or lowered after certain movements. Weakness and reduced mobility often accompanies these and other movements. People with torn rotator cuffs may also hear a popping sound when the shoulder is moved.

Torn rotator cuffs are often associated with a shoulder impingement syndrome. This occurs when there is a squeezing or pinching of the rotator cuff. The symptoms of shoulder impingement syndrome can be similar to rotator cuff tear.

Diagnosing a Torn Rotator Cuff

In addition to a history and physical examination, rotator cuffs tears are often diagnosed with an MRI. If there is a tear, an MRI will can held doctors determine whether the tear is partial or complete. However, a partially torn tear usually does not show up on MRI.

Treatment for a Torn Rotator Cuff

There are a variety of treatment options for a torn rotator cuff. Conservative treatment may include any of the following: rest, a sling, hot or cold treatment, medication, and/or physical therapy. When physical therapy is ordered, the purpose is to improve strength, range of motion, and overall function. Surgical treatment may be indicated when the rotator cuff tear that does not respond to non-surgical management.

Posted by: Chicago Personal Injury Attorney Jason M. Kroot of Kroot Law, LLC

A Traumatic Brain Injury (or TBI) usually occurs when sudden trauma to the head causes damage to the brain. These injuries can stem from a "closed head injury" where there is a sudden and violent blow to the head, a "penetrating head injury" where an object pierces the skull and enters the brain tissue, or a "diffuse head injury" where the brain is violently shaken.

Signs and Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

The signs and symptoms of a TBI do not necessary occur immediately. With a mild TBI, the patient may remain conscious or loose consciousness for a few seconds. The signs and symptoms of a mild TBI include:

• Headache
• Mental confusion
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Sensory changes like blurred vision, ringing ears, or a bad taste in the mouth
• Fatigue or lethargy
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Behavioral or mood changes
• Difficulty with memory, concentration, or calculation

If these symptoms worsen, they may indicate a more severe TBI.

With a moderate to severe TBI, the patient may show the same signs and symptoms of a mild TBI, but also exhibit any of the following:

• Loss of consciousness
• Personality change
• A severe, persistent, or worsening headache
• Repeated vomiting or nausea
• Seizures
• Inability to awaken
• Dilation of one or both pupils
• Slurred speech
• Weakness or numbness in the extremities
• Loss of coordination
• Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation

Children with TBI may lack the communication abilities to report their symptoms. Instead, they may refuse to eat (or nurse), appear listless, and/or cranky.

Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

About half of all TBIs are due to transportation accidents involving automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. For persons 75 and older, falls represent the majority of TBIs. Military men and women serving in war zones are also frequent victims of TBI. Gunshot wounds to the head have the highest rate of death, ninety percent of which are fatal.

Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries

The effects of TBI vary widely and may involve physical effects, cognitive effects, and emotional effects. Physical effects may include headaches, movement disorders, seizures, difficulty walking, sexual dysfunction, lethargy and/or coma. Cognitive effects may include changes in judgment, ability to reason, memory, and mathematical ability. Emotional effects may include mood swings, poor impulse control, agitation, low frustration threshold, clinical depression, and psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. Infection is also potentially serious complication from TBI.

Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Anyone who may have a TBI should receive medical treatment as soon as possible. The first medical treatment for TBI patients often begins when paramedics arrive or when the patient arrives into a hospital emergency room. Normally, there is little that can be done to reverse the initial brain injury. Instead, medical personnel usually focus on preventing any further damage which includes managing proper oxygen supply, blood flow, and blood pressure.

Imaging tests can help doctors reach a TBI diagnosis, treatment plan, and prognosis. Common TBI imaging and diagnostic testing are X-ray, CT, and/or MRI. Other tests include cerebral angiography, electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial Doppler ultrasound, and single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT).

In some instances, TBI patients experiencing brain swelling and fluid accumulation within the brain space. When this occurs, there is no place for swollen tissues to expand and no adjoining tissues to absorb excess fluid. This leads to increased pressure called intracranial pressure (ICP). Depending on the extent of the pressure, severe brain damage can result.

To measure a patient' ICP, doctors insert a probe or catheter into the skull which is connected to a monitor. Depending upon the amount of ICP, doctors may perform a ventriculostomy where cerebral fluid (CSF) is drained from the ventricles to bring down the pressure. Medication may also prove beneficial. In extreme cases, a decompressive craniotomy may be performed where part of the skull is removed to reduce severely high ICP. In patients with severe TBI, nearly half will undergo some form of surgery to remove or repair hematomas (ruptured blood vessels) or contusions (bruised brain tissue).

Rehabilitation and Prognosis for Traumatic Brain Injuries

Rehabilitation for patients with a TBI is a critical part of their recovery process. After the patient is stabilized, they may be transferred for rehabilitation therapy as an inpatient or outpatient depending on their condition and other variables. Patients are usually best managed in a facility that has a specialty focus in Brain Injury Rehabilitation. These patients may often need to relearn basic skills, including walking, talking, and bathing. The overall goal is to improve their ability to function as independently as possible. A TBI patient' prognosis, including the extent of any disabilities, depends largely on the severity of the injury, the location of the injury, and their general health.

Posted by: Chicago Personal Injury Attorney Jason M. Kroot of Kroot Law, LLC

A brachial plexus injury ocurs when the network of nerves that control a baby's hand and/or arm is damaged during the delivery process.

How Brachial Plexus and Erb's Palsy Injuries Occur

When an infant is too large to pass through the mother' vaginal canal, the baby' shoulder can become lodged behind the mother' 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' head which can stretch, tear or otherwise the nerves.

Medical Malpractcie Attorney - Chicago, Illinois

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 Erbs Palsy injury because of medical malpractice, we invite you to contact please contact the Chicago Medical Malpractice Office of Kroot Law, LLC, for a free consultation.

Fractured bones are often classified as "closed fractures" or "open fractures" and "simple" or "comminuted" (or multi-fragmentary).

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' negligence, please contact our Chicago Personal Injury Office for a free consultation.

The spine is comprised of a series of connected bones called vertebrae. A disc is comprised of an out layer (or "annulus fibrosus") and gel like center (or "nucleous pulpulsa") which separates parts of the vertebrae from one another. In many ways, a disc acts like a cushion between the vertebrae. Trauma from an auto accident, fall or stressing event can cause the disc to herniated or rupture, where the outer layer tears and begins to leak the inner gel. In other instances, old age can cause disc to degenerate which may or may not cause pain.

When a Disc Herniates or Ruptures

If a disc herniates or ruptures, it can press on nerves in the spine causing pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in one or more extremities. For example, a herniated disc in the back or lumbar region can cause these symptoms down a leg (often called "sciatica"). A herniated disc in the neck can cause the same symptoms down an arm.

The typical course of treatment is a combination of medication and physical therapy. Sometimes, the symptoms from a herniated disc will resolve over time. Other times, these symptoms will not improve and may worsen. When conservative measures fail, an injection or surgery is often recommended.

The goal of surgery is to make the herniated disc stop pressing on and irritating the nerves that cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. A common surgical procedure for herniated disc is called a "discectomy" or "partial discectomy." During this procedure, all or part of the herniated disc is removed.

If you believe you or a loved one has suffered a herniated or ruptured disc because of another' negligence, please contact our Chicago Personal Injury Office for a free consultation.

Read the Latest News About Herniated Disc Injuries »

Meconium is the baby' first stool. It consists of material ingested before, during, or after delivery. Often, fetal distress during labor will trigger intestinal contractions which can cause the baby' sphincter to relax, allowing meconium release into the amniotic fluid. If the baby ingests the meconium to the lungs, it can result in serious complications, including breathing difficulties and brain damage.

Serious Pulmonary and Neurological Complications Can Occur

Meconium passes into amniotic fluid between five and twenty percent of all births, though it is most common in post-term births. Meconium aspiration develops five to ten percent of these cases. Because of the serious pulmonary and neurological complications that can result from meconium aspiration syndrome, extensive treatment may be required including extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (or ECMO). This form of treatment, which is like a heart lung machine, does can help meconium aspiration babies but also carries its own risk of complications.

Although some babies respond well from treatment for meconium aspiration syndrome, others do not. If you believe your child may have suffered brain damage or breathing complications from meconium aspiration because of medical malpractice, please contact our Chicago Medical Malpractice Office for a free consultation.

Fractured bones are often classified as "closed fractures" or "open fractures" and "simple" or "comminuted" (or multi-fragmentary).

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' negligence, please contact our Chicago Personal Injury Office for a free consultation.

During fetal distress, physicians and other health professionals must respond promptly. If the condition causing fetal distress cannot be eliminated, immediate delivery may be necessary which may include an emergency cesarean section.

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' 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' future. If you believe your child has a birth injury because of medical malpractice, contact Chicago Medical Malpractice Office for a free consultation.

The miracle of birth is among the happiest occasions any parent can experience. Although mostly deliveries go smoothly, others do not. When a medical mistake results in a serious birth injury, the consequences can be catastrophic for both the baby and the family.

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' 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.

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The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that run from the spine, through shoulder, and into the finger tips. The brachial plexus conducts signals from the spine which cause the arm and hand to move. Depending upon which nerves are injured and how severely they have been injured, the muscles that control the arm and/or hand may become weak or paralyzed.

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

When an infant is too large to pass through the mother' vaginal canal, the baby' shoulder can become lodged behind the mother' 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' 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.