Paralysis

Brain Injury and Medical Malpractice

By Jack Sacks on January 2, 2025

Posted in Allergic Reactions, Aneurysm, Birth Injury, Brachial Plexus Injury, Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Erb's Palsy, Failure to Diagnose, Falls/Fractures, Heart Attack, High Blood Pressure, Hydrocephalus, Hypogylcemia, Infection, Lumbar Puncture, Meningitis, Paralysis, Peritonitis, Placental Abruption, Premature Birth, Shoulder Dystocia, Spinal Injury, Spinal Tap, Stroke, Surgical Mistakes

The prevalence of brain injury in the United States is alarming as it is the second leading cause of disability in the country. Often referred to as the silent epidemic, approximately 3.17- 5.3 million Americans suffer from traumatic brain injuries, another 4.7 million have brain injuries from strokes, and another 500,000 have cerebral palsy (brain injury due to an event of oxygen deprivation). Causes of brain injury that may give rise to a medical malpractice lawsuit are further described below: …

Lumbar Puncture – Indications and Usage

By Jack Sacks on October 7, 2024

Posted in Aneurysm, Brain Injury, Diabetes, Failure to Diagnose, Falls/Fractures, High Blood Pressure, Hydrocephalus, Hypogylcemia, Infection, Lumbar Puncture, Meningitis, Paralysis, Spinal Injury, Spinal Tap, Stroke

Lumbar puncture is a procedure performed in the lower back area, where a needle is inserted between two vertebrae to remove a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The patient flexes his/her back to widen the spaces between the vertebrae so it is easier for the physician to access the region. The back is washed with antiseptic soap or iodine and covered with a sterile sheet. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area and then a thin hollow needle…

Increased Fluid Around the Heart May Cause Cardiac Tamponade

By Jack Sacks on April 27, 2024

Posted in Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Failure to Diagnose, Heart Attack, Heart Defect, Infection, Paralysis

Pericardial effusion occurs when there is an abnormal amount of fluid around the heart. The heart is normally surrounded by a thin membranous sac called the pericardium. The space between the pericardium and the muscle that is the heart is referred to as the perciardial space. Normal levels of pericardial fluid within the pericardial space are from 15 to 50 mL, or about 1-3 tablespoons.

An effusion, therefore, represents an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space. Because of…

Deep Venous Thrombosis and Medical Malpractice

By Jack Sacks on March 28, 2024

Posted in Amputations, Brain Injury, Deep Venous Thrombosis, Failure to Diagnose, Heart Attack, Paralysis, Pulmonary Embolism, Stroke

Deep venous thrombosis is the development of a blood clot in the large, deep veins of the lower leg and thigh. Thrombi can cause tissue injury due to vascular occlusion or distal embolization. However, venous obstruction can be offset by collateral blood vessels. Thrombi can also cause local pain and edema due to the blockage of blood flow. If the clot breaks off and travels through the blood, it is referred to as an embolism. An embolism can become trapped…

Meningitis and Medical Malpractice

By Jack Sacks on March 28, 2024

Posted in Allergic Reactions, Brain Injury, Failure to Diagnose, Hydrocephalus, Infection, Lumbar Puncture, Meningitis, Paralysis, Spinal Injury, Spinal Tap

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. It is commonly caused by infection, but other causes include chemical irritants, drug allergies, fungi, and tumors. Based on the clinical evolution of the illness and the type of inflammatory exudate present in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), infectious meningitis is categorized into acute pyogenic (usually bacterial), aseptic (usually viral), and chronic (usually tuberculosis, spirochetal, cryptococcal).

Early diagnosis is essential for bacterial meningitis because it…

Advanced Diagnostic Imaging for Acquired Brain Injury

By Jack Sacks on March 22, 2024

Posted in Aneurysm, Birth Injury, Brain Injury, Failure to Diagnose, Falls/Fractures, High Blood Pressure, Hydrocephalus, Infection, Lumbar Puncture, Meningitis, Paralysis, Placental Abruption, Spinal Injury, Spinal Tap, Stroke

One of the first steps in evaluating brain injury is diagnostic imaging. Imaging refers to various methods of viewing the structures and processes residing in the brain. Some of the more familiar modalities are CT (or CAT) scans, which use X-rays to evaluate intracranial structures. MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, uses magnetic fields to illustrate the brain. However, in cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI), more advanced methods may be needed for proper diagnosis.

An MRI machine can use special software…

Spinal Cord Compression and Cauda Equina Syndrome

By Jack Sacks on January 3, 2024

Posted in Cauda Equina Syndrome, Failure to Diagnose, Falls/Fractures, Herniated Disk, Infection, Laminectomy, Paralysis, Spinal Injury, Spinal Stimulators

There are approximately 12,000 new cases of spinal cord compression annually in the United States with the average age of victims being 39.5 years old. Causes of spinal cord compression include trauma (such as auto accidents, falls, sports injury, epidural injection), spinal abscess, tumor, hematoma or blood clot, ruptured or herniated disk, and spinal stenosis. . Early symptoms may include the start of loss of movement or feeling in the arms or legs, back pain, and the loss of bowel…

Continue Reading Spinal Cord Compression and Cauda Equina Syndrome

One of the Few Law Firms Where the Lawyers are all Doctors

Medical Malpractice Inquirer