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

Erb's palsy is an injury to the nerve system in the shoulder, arm and hand. This can result in paralysis as well as other problems.

Medical negligence can result in this birth injury. It can be linked to a challenging or rushed delivery in particular when the baby's shoulder gets stuck during labour.

Causes

On rare occasions there are occasions when things be a mess. If your child was born with a disability 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 weakness that causes paralysis in varying degrees within the shoulder and arm, affecting the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to the muscles, allowing them to move. Abrachial plexus injury could result in a loss of ability to grasp and move the hand in the affected area.

There are a variety of causes of Erb's palsy. It could be caused by shoulder dystocia an complication of labour that occurs when the baby's head is stuck above the pubic bone of the mother's. It is more common in women with risk factors, such as gestational diabetics and large infants or babies. Shoulder dystocia is an emergency medical condition. It is important for doctors to recognize this and be aware of what to do to prevent complications. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or a vacuum extractor during labour or through an emergency Cesarean section.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of Erb's palsy include a lack in movement in the affected hand or arm and a weak grip. Typically, symptoms manifest between six and 12 months after the birth.

The brachial plexus is a system of nerves which run from the spine to both sides of the neck, regulating motion and sensation in the hand, arm and fingers. These nerves, if damaged could cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.

It's usually caused by the medical error that occurs during childbirth, like doctors pulling too hard to free a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It could 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 that forms part of the Brachial Plexus.

The majority of infants who suffer from injuries to their limbs or legs will recover within six to 12 months. However certain cases are so severe that they require surgical intervention to repair the nerves damaged. If the nerves damaged are not repaired then a child could be left with permanent impairment that hinders their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

For children suffering from Erb's Palsy there are a variety of treatments to reduce the effects, but the damage is not able to be completely repaired. A few infants suffer from significant disability and are unable move their arms, hands or fingers.

The symptoms are caused by an injury to the brachial plexus which provides all the muscles of the upper limb with the exception for the trapezius. The injury is usually to the upper trunks of nerves C5 or C6. Infrequently, it can also affect C7. This results in the classic sign of Erb's palsy which is a type of waiter's hand which cannot pronate or stretch the forearm. In some cases, the injured nerves also cause Horner's syndrome, a pupil that is drooping and a chin that is constricted.

It is possible to make an action for medical negligence during the birth that causes an infant suffering from Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition can be caused by excessive force applied to the baby during birth. This includes using vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps that are not used correctly. This could be a result of a doctor who fails to manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to perform a vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean delivery would be more suitable.

Treatment

The nerves of the brachial plexus control movement and feel in the hand and arm. If a baby is identified as having Erb's Palsy, it indicates that the nerves are injured. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, however there are some who suffer from a permanent impairment which affects their movement and the sensation in their arm.

The treatment is centered around physical therapy which aims to increase the range of motion of the injured arm. Stretching and passive exercises are a great way to achieve this. A physiotherapist can also suggest an extension splint, which can aid in movement and reduce stiffness. In the case of severe cases, a nerve transplant might be required to rebuild damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation may help a child suffering from an Erb's Palsy injury live their life to the fullest extent and access essential equipment, treatment, and assistance. If you believe your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during their birth, you could be able to claim an Erb's Palsy claim for monetary damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit can award families financial compensation to with the cost of their child's treatment. It could also give them an awareness of justice and make medical professionals aware of 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 as well as other equipment and treatments to aid their condition. They can also compensate you for any loss of earnings or income caused by your child's disability.

If your child was diagnosed with erb's palsy and you believe that medical negligence played a role, it is important to contact an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer immediately. They can provide you with advice on how to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed in time. This increases your chances of receiving compensation. Our team of specialized erb's palsy lawyers can help you get the maximum amount of compensation you're entitled to. This can help with the long-term expenses of your child's disabilities and ensure that they have everything they require to live a happy, healthy life.