New Jersey Torticollis Attorneys

Birth Injury Lawyers Advocating for Victims in New Jersey and New York

When your baby is delivered, your inevitable first question is: “Are they healthy?” With anticipation hanging in the air, you hope with all of your heart to hear: “They’re perfect.” Tragically, these words don’t always apply. At times, a baby is born with an immediate, observable health complication. In other cases, a baby that initially appears healthy will present with signs and symptoms of a condition over time. Many of the conditions that compromise a baby’s health can directly result from problems during child birth. The complex process of labor and delivery requires intensive monitoring and supervision, as well as swift and accurate intervention when risk factors arise. When medical professionals fail to adequately oversee and execute the birth of a child, the consequences can be devastating, if not deadly. Among the vast array of birth injuries that may be caused by delivery errors is a condition called torticollis. Torticollis, also known as wry neck, is a painful condition characterized by the involuntary contraction of the neck muscles, which leads to abnormal positioning of the head and neck. Similar to other conditions such as shoulder dystocia and brachial plexus injuries, torticollis frequently arises as a result of errors during child birth.

If your child suffers from torticollis and you suspect that the negligence of a medical professional may have contributed to the condition, the medical malpractice attorneys at Fronzuto Law Group regularly advocate for people just like you. At Fronzuto Law Group, our legal professionals have extensive experience in the realm of medical and pediatric malpractice, as well as birth injuries. Assisting victims and their families in New Jersey, New York, and across the United States, our approach to our law practice is based on rigorous research, evidence-based arguments, and a commitment to achieving maximum compensation for victims and their families. Understanding the stress and strain that these situations cause, we purposefully limit our case load to provide the utmost support and guidance to our clients through every phase of the legal process. To discuss your case with one of our seasoned birth injury lawyers today, contact our offices at 973-435-4551 or toll free at 888-409-0816. You can also contact us online for additional information.

What is Torticollis?

Torticollis, also known as wry neck, spasmodic torticollis, or cervical dystonia, is a serious condition in which opposing muscles in the neck contract simultaneously and involuntarily. These muscle contractions create tension in the neck, causing the head to turn abnormally or to maintain an abnormal position. There are a variety of head movements that may result from torticollis, including: the chin moving toward the shoulder, the ear moving toward the shoulder, or the chin moving straight up or straight down. Torticollis can be congenital or developed at any time during or after birth. Often, torticollis is caused by an injury to the head, neck, or shoulder during delivery.

There are a variety of circumstances that may cause torticollis during child birth, many of which may constitute medical malpractice. Some of the delivery errors that lead to torticollis include:

• Excessive force placed on the baby’s head or neck
• Excessive pulling on the baby’s arm or shoulder
• Injuries caused during vacuum extraction
• Forceps injuries
• Failure to correct abnormal positioning in the womb

Symptoms of Torticollis

There are a host of symptoms that may present in infants with torticollis, each of which varies in severity based on the specific case. Some of the most common symptoms of torticollis include:

• The head frequently leaning in one direction
• Limited range of motion in the head
• One shoulder that is positioned higher than the other
• The chin pointing upward
• Headaches
• Head tremors or jerking head movements
• Neck stiffness
• Neck pain
• Swelling in the neck muscles

Torticollis Diagnosis and Treatment

If a baby presents with any of the symptoms of torticollis, expedient diagnosis and treatment is essential to securing the best outcome. Both physical examinations and tests can be utilized to detect torticollis. Physical exams may reveal shortened neck muscles or swelling in the neck muscles, as well as abnormal positioning of the head, neck, and/or shoulders. Doctors may also order CT scans, MRIs, and/or EMGs to confirm a torticollis diagnosis. Once a torticollis diagnosis is confirmed, there are a variety of treatments and techniques that can be used in isolation or in combination to address the condition. One of more of the following may be used to treat torticollis in infants:

• Static stretching to extend shortened neck muscles
• Utilizing heat, traction, and massage to alleviate head and neck pain
• Medication to combat muscle contractions
• Intermittent injections of botulinum toxin
• Neck braces
• Surgery to correct vertebral or nerve-related problems

Medical malpractice may be involved in torticollis cases in two distinct ways: medical professionals can cause the condition through delivery errors, or their failure to diagnose and treat the condition can lead to further complications for the child. If a baby’s torticollis treatment is delayed, he or she may develop numbness and tingling, swelling, chronic pain, scoliosis, or plagiocephaly. If medical negligence caused your child harm, you can hold these parties accountable through a medical malpractice lawsuit and obtain compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitative treatment, necessary future accommodations, and pain and suffering.

Contact our New York Torticollis Lawyers for a Free Consultation

If your child has suffers from torticollis or another form of birth injury due to the negligence of a healthcare provider, it is essential to understand the legal avenues that may be available to you. For additional information and a cost-free consultation, contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Fronzuto Law Group at 973-435-4551 or toll free at 888-409-0816 today.