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

Erb's Palsy is caused due to damage to the nerve network in the shoulder, arm and hand. It can lead to paralysis as well as a variety of other problems.

The birth injury could be caused by medical negligence. This birth injury is typically related to a difficult or premature delivery.

Causes

Pregnancies and births usually go smoothly, but on the rare occasion something can go wrong. If your child was born with a disability caused by medical negligence, like Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you obtain compensation for their ongoing suffering.

Erb's palsy is a weakness of varying degrees or paralysis in the shoulder or arms, which affects the brachial nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to the muscles, allowing them to move. Abrasions to the brachialplexus can cause a decline in the ability to move and grip the affected hand.

Erb's Palsy can be caused by a range of causes. Erb's Palsy can be caused by shoulder dystocia which is a condition that occurs when the baby's skull gets stuck over the mother's pubic bone. It is more common in women with risk factors such as gestational diabetes, large babies or infants. Shoulder dystocia is an emergency medical situation. It is crucial for doctors to recognize this and be aware of what to do to avoid complications. It could also occur by forceps or vacuum extractors, or an emergency Cesarean.

Signs and symptoms

Erb's spalsy is identified by a lack in movement of the hand or arm affected and a weak grip. Usually, the symptoms appear within six to 12 months after the birth.

The brachialplexus is the name of a nerve system that runs from the spine to both sides of the neck. It controls movements and sensations of the arm, fingers and hand. If damaged, these nerves could cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected hand and arm.

It's usually the result of a medical error during childbirth, like doctors pulling too hard to free a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It can also occur when the baby is placed in the 'waiter tip' position during the delivery, which puts strain on the upper trunk C5-C6 nervous system, which is part of the Brachial plexus.

The majority of infants who sustain 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 damaged nerves are not repaired, the child could suffer an ongoing disability that impacts their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

For children with Erb's Palsy there are a number options to treat the impact, but the injury cannot be completely repaired. A few infants suffer from significant disability, and are unable move their hand, arm or fingers.

The symptoms result from injury to the brachial area which is the main muscle of the upper limb, except for the trapezius. The injury is usually to the upper nerves of C5 or C6. It is less often, however, it can also affect C7. The result is the classic Erb's-Palsy sign, a hand that resembles a waiter's tip, unable to pronate nor extend the forearm. In a few cases, nerves are damaged and can result in Horner syndrome. It is manifested by pupils that are drooping as well as a tightened face.

You can file a claim for medical negligence If your child has Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is often caused by excessive force applied to the baby during birth. This can be caused by using vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps used incorrectly. This can include a doctor who fails to control shoulder dystocia correctly, or decides to do vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean birth would have been more appropriate.

Treatment

The brachialplexus nerves control movement and sensation in the hands and arm. If the baby is diagnosed with Erb's palsy it means the nerves have been damaged. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, but some have a long-term disability that limits movement and sensation in their arm.

Physical therapy is utilized to increase range of motion. Passive exercises and stretching can be used to achieve this. A physiotherapist can also recommend a specialist extension splint to help with movements and reduce stiffness. Surgical intervention may be required in severe cases to repair damaged nerves with the use of a nerve graft.

A compensation claim can help a child suffering from Erb's Palsy live life to the fullest, and have access to the essential equipment as well as education and medical. If you suspect that your child's condition was caused by an error made by a doctor at birth, you might be able to make an Erb's Palsy claim for monetary damages.

Compensation

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

Settlements in the Erb's palsy lawsuit will help pay for the cost of physiotherapy treatments for your child and other treatments and equipment required to aid their condition. You may also be compensated for any lost income or earnings due to the impairment of your child.

If your child is diagnosed with erb's palsy and you suspect medical negligence may have been the reason in the diagnosis, it is crucial to speak with an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer whenever you can. They can provide you with suggestions on how to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed on time. This increases your chances of obtaining compensation. Our team of specialized erb's palsy law firms palsy lawyers can help you claim the highest amount of compensation you are entitled to. This can help you deal with the long-term costs associated with your child's disabilities and make sure that they have everything they need to live a happy, healthy life.