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. It can cause paralysis, as well as other problems.

The birth injury could be the result of medical negligence. It is often linked to an uneasy or rush delivery and, in particular, when the baby's shoulder gets stuck during labour.

Causes

Pregnancies and births generally go smoothly, however, on the rare occasion 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 claim compensation for their ongoing suffering.

Erb's palsy is a condition that causes weakness or paralysis in varying degrees within the shoulder and arm and affecting the brachial nerves. These nerves transmit electrical signals to muscles, allowing them to move. Injuries to the brachial nerve can cause an inability to grip and move the hand affected.

There are a number of causes of erb's palsy attorney syndrome. Erb's Palsy can be caused by shoulder dystocia which is a complication that occurs when the baby's skull becomes stuck over the mother's pubic bone. It is more frequent with certain risk factors such as gestational diabetes and the size of a baby or infant. Shoulder dystocia can be an emergency medical condition. It is crucial for doctors to recognize this and know what to do to prevent complications. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or an extractor vacuum during labour or by having an emergency Cesarean section.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of Erb's Palsy include a lack of movement in the affected hand or arm and weak grip strength. Symptoms typically manifest about six to twelve months following birth.

The brachial plexus is a system of nerves that runs from the spine down both sides of the neck, managing sensation and movement in the hand, arm and fingers. If damaged, these nerves can cause weakness and partial paralysis of the affected arm or hand.

It's usually the result of the medical error that occurs during childbirth, for example the doctor pulling too hard to release the baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It could also be caused by a traumatic birth, especially if the infant is placed in a 'waiter's tippy position, which puts strain on the upper trunk C5-C6 nerves that are part of the brachial plexus.

Most infants who sustain an injury from a stretch recover within six to 12 months and are usually able to return home within six months, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgery by using a nerve graft restore the injured nerves. If the nerves damaged aren't repaired, the child may be left with permanent impairment that limits their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

For children suffering from Erb's Palsy there are a number of treatments that can reduce the effects but the injury cannot be completely repaired. Some infants suffer from a significant disability and are unable to 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 results in symptoms. The most common injury is to the upper branches of nerves C5 or C6. It is less often, however, it can also affect C7. This results in the classic Erb's syndrome which is a waiter's tips type hand which cannot pronate or extend the forearm. In some cases, the nerves are injured and cause Horner's syndrome, a drooping of the pupil and a constricted chin.

You can claim medical negligence if your child suffers from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is often caused by excessive force exerted on the baby during the delivery process. This includes using the vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps that are not used correctly. It can also include a doctor who is not managing shoulder dystocia correctly or opting to have vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean section earlier would be more suitable.

Treatment

The brachialplexus' nerves control the movement and feel of the hands and arms. If the baby is diagnosed with Erb's palsy it means the nerves have been injured. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, however there are some who suffer from a permanent impairment that affects movement and sensation in their arm.

The treatment is centered around physical therapy, which is designed to increase the range of motion of the injured arm. It can be done in many ways, including stretching exercises and passive exercises. A physiotherapist may also recommend an extension splint which will help with movement and prevent stiffness. In the most severe cases, a nerve graft might be required to rebuild damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation can help a child suffering from an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest, and access essential equipment, treatment, and support. If you believe that your child's Palsy was caused by an error in medical care at the time of their birth, you could be eligible to make a claim for monetary damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit can award families financial compensation to treat their child. It can also give them the feeling of justice and draw attention to medical professionals that could have prevented a brachial plexus injury.

Settlements from the Erb's Palsy lawsuits can assist in covering the costs of physiotherapy for your child as well as other treatments and equipment required to help their condition. You could also receive compensation for any loss of income or earnings due to the impairment 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 on time. This increases the chances of obtaining compensation. Our team of experts from Erb's-Palsy can assist you in obtaining the most compensation to which you are entitled to. This will help you pay for the long-term expenses of your child's disability, and ensure that they have everything they need to live a full and happy life.