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

Erb's Palsy is caused by nerve damage in the shoulder, arm and hand. It can lead to paralysis and other problems.

Medical negligence can result in this birth injury. It can result in an uneasy or rushed birth particularly when the baby's shoulders become stuck during labor.

Causes

In rare circumstances there are occasions when things occur that go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors can assist you if your child has an impairment that was caused by medical malpractice, such as Erb’s palsy.

Erb's Palsy is a weakness of various degrees or paralysis of the shoulder and arms, affecting the brachial nerves. These nerves transmit electrical signals to the muscles, allowing them to move. Damage to the brachial tract could result in a loss of ability to grip and move the hand affected.

There are a number of causes of Erb's palsy. Erb's palsy is often caused by shoulder dystocia, which is a complication that occurs when the baby's skull gets stuck above the mother’s pubic bone. This is more likely with certain risk factors like gestational diabetes, and the size of a baby or infant. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is imperative that doctors recognize this and are able to respond swiftly to avoid complications for the baby. It can also happen by forceps, vacuum extractors, or have an emergency Cesarean.

Symptoms

Erb's palsy is defined by a lack in movement of the hand or arm affected, as well as an inability to grip. Typically, the symptoms show within 6 to 12 months after the birth.

The brachialplexus is an intricate network of nerves that extend from the spine down both sides of the neck. They control motion and sensation in the arm, hand and fingers. When these nerves are damaged, they can cause weakness and partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.

It is often the result of medical mistakes during childbirth. For example doctors pulling on the baby's shoulder too hard (shoulder dystocia). It can also occur when the baby is placed in the 'waiter tip' position during delivery and puts strain on the upper trunk C5-C6 nervous system, which is part of the Brachial plexus.

Most infants who sustain a stretch injury recover within six to twelve months in most cases, erb's palsy lawsuit with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention with a nerve graft to fix the damaged nerves. If the damaged nerves do not get repaired, a child could have permanent impairment that hinders their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

For children with Erb's Palsy there are a number of treatments to lessen the effects but the injury can never be fully repaired. Some infants suffer from a significant disability and are unable to move their arm, hand or fingers.

The injury to the brachial-plexus which is responsible for the innervation of the upper limb muscles except the trapezius, causes symptoms. The injury typically affects the upper nerves C5 and C6 but less often affects C7. This is the reason for the Erb's palsy sign, a waiter tip-like hand which is unable to pronate or bend the forearm. In a few cases, nerves are injured and cause Horner's disease, a pupils that are drooping, and a constricted chin.

You can claim medical negligence when your child is suffering from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is typically caused by excessive force applied to the baby during delivery. This can be caused by using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. This could include a doctor who does not manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to perform a vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean delivery would have been more appropriate.

Treatment

The nerves of the brachial nerve control movement and feel in the hand and arm. If a baby's diagnosis is with Erb's Palsy it indicates that the nerves have been injured. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months but some are left with an ongoing disability that affects the movement and sensation of their arm.

The treatment is centered around physical therapy that aims to increase the range of motion of the injured arm. Stretching and passive exercises can be used to achieve this. A physiotherapist may also recommend an extension splint to help with movement and prevent stiffness. In the case of severe instances, 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 its fullest, and gain access to essential equipment as well as education and medical. If you believe that your child's Palsy was the result of an error in medical care at the time of their birth, you could be able to make a claim for monetary damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit may give families financial compensation to treat their child. It may also give them a sense justice and bring attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements can be used to pay for the cost of physiotherapy for your child in addition to other treatments and equipment needed to aid their condition. You may also be able to receive compensation for any lost income or earnings resulting from the disability of your child.

It is recommended to seek out an Erb's Palsy lawyer immediately if you suspect that medical negligence was involved. They will be able to provide suggestions on how to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed in time. This increases your chances of getting compensation. Our team of specialist phillipsburg erb's palsy lawyer Palsy lawyers can assist you get the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to. This will help you pay for the long-term costs associated with your child's handicap and ensure that they have everything they need to live a happy, healthy life.