When there is a traumatic delivery there is a concern that a baby may have brain damage because of a lack of oxygen. There can be physical signs of brain damage, including floppiness, low tone, blue color, and seizures. But the most accurate way to determine if there is a brain damage is to take an MRI or CT scan.
What does that show?
When the brain is injured due to a lack of oxygen, the brain will begin to swell over 24 to 72 hours. Swelling can be seen on MRIs and CT scans. Not only do these films help to identify swelling, they are used in a birth injury case to help time when the injury occurred. If there is birth trauma, swelling of the brain is evidence that it was related to mistakes at birth, i.e. that there was a delay in delivering the baby earlier enough to avoid brain injury.
After 72 hours, the brain swelling will get better. MRIs and CT scans at this point will be able to show specific areas of the brain that are damaged. Babies may have cerebral palsy which is brain damage cause by a lack of oxygen.
These tests are important for doctors to be able to diagnose brain damage and the cause. Lawyers like me also us these tests to help build a birth injury case.
If your baby has brain damage and you have questions about whether it was cause by medical malpractice, call Frank Spector Law for a free case review. I have recovered millions of dollars for babies injured at birth.