Cranial nerve injury can result from hyperextension, traction, and overstretching with simultaneous rotation. Neurapraxia will resolve swiftly but complete nerve or cord transection is a much more serious matter.
Consequences of cranial nerve injury:
- Central damage to the facial and vagus nerves cause an asymmetrical face on crying with swelling and smoothness of the affected side and drooping of the side of the mouth.
- Peripheral damage from a cranial nerve injury causes paralysis to the eye, forehead or mouth only.
- In most cases children affected soon start to recover but full recovery may take months.
- The eye must be protected with a covering and synthetic tears.
- If there is no improvement after 7 to 10 days, investigation is required.
- Phrenic nerve damage can cause paralysis of half of diaphragm leading to breathing difficulties with significant mortality. Ultrasound or X-ray shows an elevated hemidiaphragm but this may be absent in the early stages. Screening may show immobility.
- 80% of phrenic nerve palsies are on the right side, 10% on the left side and 10% are bilateral.
- With a cranial birth injury there is a mortality rate of 10 to 15% for unilateral lesions rising to 50% for bilateral ones.
Making Compensation Claims With Birth Injury
As specialist birth injury lawyers we are able to assist you with any issues you may have concerning this condition and are able to help you make a claim for Cranial nerve injury compensation.
To begin your claim or for more information on Cranial nerve injury you can contact us by email info@cerebralpalsy-compensation.co.uk, by calling our freephone number on 0800 987 8881 or by completing our very easy online enquiry form.