Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an Erb's Palsy Claim

Erb's palsy is caused by nerve damage in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can cause paralysis as well as a variety of other problems.

This birth injury can be the result of medical negligence. The birth injury is usually caused by a difficult or rushed birth.

Causes

The majority of births and pregnancies go smoothly, but, on rare occasions something could go wrong. If your child was born with a disability that was caused by medical negligence, for instance Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you seek compensation for their ongoing suffering.

Erb's Palsy is a condition of varying degrees or paralysis of the shoulder and arms, that affects the brachial nerves. These nerves are responsible for sending electrical messages to the muscles in order to enable them to move. Injuries to the brachialplexus could result in the inability to move and grip the hand that is affected.

There are many causes of Erb's Palsy. erb's palsy law firm palsy is often caused by shoulder dystocia which is a complication that occurs when the baby's skull is stuck above the mother’s pubic bone. It is more frequent in women who have certain risk factors, such as gestational diabetes, infants who are large. Shoulder dystocia is an emergency medical situation. It is important for doctors to recognize this and be aware of the best way to treat it to prevent complications. It could also occur if you use forceps, vacuum extractors or have an emergency Cesarean.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Erb's Palsy are a lack of movement in the affected hand or arm and a weak grip. Usually, the symptoms appear between six and 12 months after birth.

The brachialplexus is the name of a nerve system that extends from the spine to both sides of the neck. It controls movement and sensation of the fingers, arms and hand. If they become damaged, the nerves may cause weakness or partial paralysis in the affected arm and hand.

It is often the result of medical errors during childbirth. For instance, a doctor pulling on the baby's shoulder too hard (shoulder dystocia). It can also happen when the baby is placed in the 'waiter tip' position during delivery that puts stress on the C5-C6 nerve system, which is part of the Brachial Plexus.

Most infants who suffer from an injury from a stretch recover within six to twelve months, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention using a nerve graft to repair the injured nerves. If the nerves damaged do not get repaired the child may suffer permanent impairment that hinders their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

For children suffering from Erb's Palsy there are a variety options to treat the effects but the injury cannot be completely repaired. Some children are left with a significant disability and cannot move their hand, arm or fingers.

The injury to the brachial plexus, which is the nerve that innervates the upper limb muscles, except for the trapezius creates symptoms. The injury usually affects the upper trunks of nerves C5 or C6. Less frequently, it can also affect C7. This results in the classic Erb's palsy sign, a waiter's tip type hand which cannot pronate or extend the forearm. In a few cases, injured nerves can also cause Horner's syndrome, a pupils that are drooping, and a chin that is constricted.

You can sue for medical negligence when your child is suffering from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is usually caused when excessive force is applied to the baby during birth. This includes using the vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps improperly. This could include a physician who isn't able to manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to give birth via the vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean would have been more suitable.

Treatment

The brachialplexus nerves control the movement and feel of the hands and arms. If a baby is identified as having Erb's palsy, it signifies that the nerves are injured. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, however some suffer from an indefinite disability that limits the movement and sensation of their arm.

Physical therapy is a method to improve range of motion. Passive exercises and stretching are a great way to achieve this. A physiotherapist can also recommend an extension splint specifically designed to help with flexibility and prevent stiffness. In the case of severe cases, a nerve graft might be required to rebuild damaged nerves.

A compensation claim can help a child suffering from Erb's Palsy live life to the fullest, and gain access to the essential equipment education, medical care, and other. If you suspect that your child's illness was caused by an unintentional medical error during their birth, then you may be eligible to claim an Erb's Palsy claim for financial damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit may award families financial compensation to pay for the treatment of their child. It can also give them an appreciation for justice and draw attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.

Settlements for Erb's lawsuit for palsy can help cover the costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child and other treatments and equipment needed to help their condition. You may also be compensated for any loss of income or lawyers earnings resulting from the disability of your child.

You should contact an Erb's Paralysis lawyer as soon as you suspect that medical negligence was involved. They can give you guidance on how to proceed and make sure that all paperwork is filed in time. This increases your chances of getting compensation. Our team of specialized lawyers for erb's palsy can help you claim the highest amount of compensation you are entitled to. This could help offset the long-term costs of your child's disability, and ensure that they have everything they require to lead a fulfilled life.