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In February 2025, the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery published a groundbreaking study led by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital. The research explored how innovative MRI techniques can provide earlier and more accurate diagnoses for infants with brachial plexus birth injuries.
By using a modified magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure and a standardized brachial plexus injury scoring system, doctors can better assess the severity of nerve damage. They can then predict if an infant will regain function or need brachial plexus palsy surgery.
When surgery is needed to repair a brachial plexus injury, it can be a complex and expensive procedure. Yet, for many children with brachial plexus nerve damage, surgery is critical for future mobility and quality of life.
If your baby has a brachial plexus injury and medical negligence played a role, your family may be eligible for compensation from a lawsuit to help pay for surgery and future care.
Get a free case review right now to see if you may qualify to take legal action.
What the New Study Found About MRIs and Brachial Plexus Surgery
The new study has shown that MRIs can help predict whether infants with this type of birth injury will need brachial plexus nerve surgery.
This may offer parents answers much sooner than the traditional wait time of 6 to 9 months. During that period, doctors typically monitor a baby’s recovery through physical exams before deciding if brachial plexus surgery is needed.
In the study, researchers modified MRI procedures to make them non-sedated and quicker, using a “feed and wrap” technique to keep infants still.
They also developed a brachial plexus injury scoring system to assess the severity of nerve damage. Higher scores were linked with a greater likelihood that arm function would not return without surgery.
The study, involving 102 infants, demonstrated that this approach could lessen parental stress and improve early treatment decisions.
Boston Children’s Hospital now offers these new MRIs to better assess brachial plexus injuries in babies. Researchers hope other centers will adopt the practice. Future analysis may further refine predictions for long-term shoulder function.
What Is Brachial Plexus Nerve Damage?
The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that controls movement and feeling in the shoulder, arm, and hand. If these nerves are stretched or torn during childbirth, it can cause weakness, loss of motion, or even paralysis in the affected arm.
Brachial plexus nerve damage often happens when a baby’s delivery is difficult. Some common causes of brachial plexus injuries include pulling too hard on the baby’s shoulders during delivery, shoulder dystocia (when the baby’s shoulder gets stuck), and the improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors.
Symptoms of a brachial plexus injury may include:
- Absent startle reflex on the affected side
- Limp or floppy arm at birth
- Little or no movement in the shoulder or hand
- Weaker grip in one hand compared to the other
One specific type of brachial plexus injury is Erb’s palsy, which affects the upper nerves and can cause weakness or paralysis in the shoulder and upper arm.
While some babies recover with therapy, others may need brachial plexus nerve surgery to regain function. When a brachial plexus injury could have been prevented with proper care, families may be able to take legal action.
Legal Options for Brachial Plexus Injuries
When a baby suffers a brachial plexus injury at birth, it may be due to medical malpractice, especially if doctors failed to respond to complications during delivery.
In these cases, families may be able to pursue brachial plexus injury settlements to help cover the cost of surgeries, therapy, and long-term care.
Our legal partners secured these brachial plexus lawsuit payouts:
- $5 million to a family in Connecticut
- $2 million on behalf of a North Carolina child
- $1.99 million for a family in New York
- $1.8 million to a Texas family
- $2.75 million for a family in Pennsylvania
- $4.5 million to an Illinois family
For many families, filing a brachial plexus claim for compensation is the first step toward justice and getting the care their child needs to thrive.
Connect With a Brachial Plexus Birth Injury Lawyer
The Birth Injury Justice Center works with a trusted network of birth injury lawyers who have experience handling these complex medical malpractice cases.
So far, our legal partners have helped families recover over $1 billion in birth injury lawsuit compensation.
If your child was diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury, we may be able to connect you with a top birth injury attorney near you.
A skilled brachial plexus injury lawyer can help your family:
- Understand if malpractice played a role
- Investigate what went wrong during delivery
- Build a case against the hospital or health care provider
- Seek compensation for medical care and other expenses
There’s no cost to see if you may qualify, and you won’t pay anything unless your case results in a payout.
Call us at (800) 914-1562 right now or fill out our form to get started.
