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

Erb's Palsy is a result of an injury to the network of nerves in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can result in paralysis as well as other problems.

The birth injury could be caused by medical negligence. The birth injury is usually due to a challenging or rushed birth.

Causes

Pregnancies and births usually go well but, on rare occasions something goes wrong. Hudgell Solicitors can assist you when your child suffers from an impairment that was caused by medical negligence like Erb's palsy.

Erb's palsy is a weakness that causes paralysis in varying degrees within the arm and shoulder, affecting the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves are responsible for sending electrical messages to the muscles to allow them to move. Injuries to the brachialplexus could result in the inability to move and grip the hand that is affected.

Erb's Palsy can be caused by a range of factors. It could be caused by shoulder dystocia, a complication of labour that happens when the baby's skull gets stuck above the mother's pubic bone. It is more prevalent in women with certain risk factors like gestational diabetes, large babies or infants. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency, and it is imperative that doctors recognize this and be able to react quickly to avoid complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or an extractor vacuum during labour or even by having an emergency Cesarean section.

Signs and symptoms

Erb's Palsy is characterized by a lack of movement of the arm or hand affected and an inability to grip. The symptoms usually manifest between six and twelve months after birth.

The brachialplexus is a network of nerves that connects the spine to both sides of the neck. It regulates the movement and sensation of the fingers, arm and Erb's palsy lawsuit hand. If they become damaged, the nerves may cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and hand.

It is often the result of birth-related medical errors. For example a doctor pressing on the baby's shoulder too hard (shoulder dystocia). It can also occur when the baby is placed in the 'waiter' position during birth and puts strain on the C5-C6 nerve system that forms part of the Brachial Plexus.

Most infants who suffer a stretch injury will recover within six to 12 months. However certain cases are so severe that they require surgical intervention to repair the damaged nerves. If the damaged nerves do not get repaired and rehabilitated, a child could suffer a permanent disability that affects their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

There are a variety of treatment options for children suffering from Erb's Palsy, but the injury is not fully healed. Some infants suffer from a significant disability and are unable to move their arms, hands or fingers.

The symptoms are caused by a trauma to the brachial area which innervates all the muscles of the upper limb with the exception for the trapezius. The injury is usually affecting the upper nerves C5 & C6 and less frequently affects C7. This causes the classic sign of Erb's palsy the waiter's tip hand that cannot pronate, or extend the forearm. In some instances, nerves damaged may also result in Horner syndrome. The symptoms include pupils that are drooping as well as a tightened face.

You can claim medical negligence If your child has Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is due to the fact that this condition is usually caused by excessive force exerted on the baby during the birth process. This can be caused by using a vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps that are not used correctly. It could also involve the doctor not controlling shoulder dystocia properly, or deciding to do vaginal birth or breech when a more conventional caesarean delivery would be more suitable.

Treatment

The brachialplexus' nerves control movement and sensation in the arm and hands. If the baby is diagnosed with Erb's Palsy, it means the nerves have been injured. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months, however some have a permanent disability that restricts movement and feeling in their arm.

Treatment is focused on physical therapy that seeks to improve the range of motion of the injured arm. Passive exercises and stretching can be utilized to achieve this. A physiotherapist could also recommend an extension splint, which can assist in movement and help prevent stiffness. In severe cases, a nerve transplant could be needed to rebuild damaged nerves.

A compensation claim can aid a child with robbins erb's palsy lawsuit Palsy live life to the fullest, and gain access to essential equipment, education, and care. If you believe that your child's Palsy was caused by an error in medical treatment at the time of their birth, you may be able to file a claim for financial damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit can award families financial compensation that will help pay for their child's treatment. It could also give them a sense of justice and call attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial or plexus injury.

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements will help pay for the costs of physiotherapy for your child and other treatments and equipment required to treat their condition. They may also reimburse you for any loss of earnings or income due to the disability of your child.

If your child is diagnosed with erb's palsy and you suspect medical negligence played a role, it is important to reach out to an experienced lawyer for Erb's Palsy immediately. They can advise you on the best approach to take and ensure that all paperwork is filed prior to when any deadlines end. This increases the chances of obtaining compensation. Our team of erb's-palsy specialists can help you get the maximum amount of compensation to which you are entitled to. This could help offset the long-term expenses of your child's disabilities and ensure that they have everything they require to live a happy life.