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

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

Medical negligence can cause this birth injury. It can be linked to the birth process being rushed or difficult and, in particular, when the baby's shoulders get stuck during labour.

Causes

Pregnancies and births generally are a breeze, however on the rare occasion things can go wrong. If your child was born with a disability that was caused by medical negligence, like Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you claim compensation for their ongoing suffering.

Erb's palsy can be described as a weakness or paralysis that is varying in the shoulder and arm that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to muscles, which allow them to move. Injury to the brachial plexus may result in the inability to grasp and move the hand affected.

There are a number of reasons for erb's palsy attorneys palsy. Erb's palsy is often caused by shoulder dystocia which is a condition that occurs when the baby's head gets stuck above the mother’s pubic bone. This is more likely with certain risk factors, such as gestational diabetes and the size of a baby or infant. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency, and it is crucial to 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 the use of a vacuum extractor during labor or during an emergency Cesarean section.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Erb's Palsy are a lack of movement in the affected arm or hand and a weak grip strength. The symptoms usually manifest between six and twelve months after birth.

The brachialplexus is a nerve network that connects the spine to both sides of the neck. It regulates movements and sensations of the fingers, arms and Erb's palsy lawsuit hand. If damaged, these nerves can cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and hand.

It's typically caused by a medical error during childbirth, such as doctors pulling too hard to free a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It could also be caused by a traumatic birth when the baby is placed in a 'waiter's tip' position, which causes tension on the upper trunk C5-C6 nerves that are part of the brachial nerve.

The majority of infants who suffer from 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 nerves affected aren't repaired, the child could suffer a permanent disability affecting their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

There are many treatments for children with Erb’s Palsy however the damage is not fully healed. Some children are left with a significant impairment and cannot move their arms, hands or fingers.

The symptoms result from injury to the brachial plexus, which provides all the muscles of the upper limb with the exception for the trapezius. The injury usually affects the upper nerves C5 as well as C6 but less frequently affects C7. This results in the classic sign of Erb's palsy, a waiter's tip type hand which cannot pronate or stretch the forearm. In a few cases, nerves that are damaged can cause Horner syndrome. It is evident by an elongated pupil and constricted 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 typically caused by excessive force being applied to the baby during delivery. This can be caused by using forceps or a ventouse (vacuum extraction) in a way that is not correct. It can also mean a doctor who is not managing shoulder dystocia appropriately or deciding to do an breech or vaginal birth in a situation where a caesarean birth would have been more suitable.

Treatment

The brachialplexus's nerves control movement and sensation in the hands and arm. When a baby is diagnosed with Erb's Palsy it means that nerves are injured. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months, however some suffer from an ongoing disability that affects the movement and sensation of their arm.

Physical therapy is utilized to improve the range of motion. This can be accomplished in various ways, including passive exercises and stretching. A physiotherapist may also recommend an extension splint, which can aid in movement and avoid stiffness. In severe instances, a nerve graft may be needed to reconstruct damaged nerves.

A compensation claim can aid a child with Erb's Palsy live life to its fullest and gain access to essential equipment, education, and care. If you believe that your child's Palsy was the result of an error in medical care during their birth, then you might be able make a claim for monetary damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit could award families financial compensation to help with the cost of their child's treatment. It can also give them a sense justice and bring attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.

Settlements in the Erb's palsy lawsuit can be used to pay for the costs of physiotherapy for your child, as well as other equipment and treatments to treat their condition. They can also compensate you for any loss of income or earnings because of your child's disability.

You should contact an Erb's palsy lawyer as soon as you suspect that medical negligence may have been involved. They will be able to provide suggestions on how to proceed and make sure that all paperwork is filed on time. This will increase your chances of obtaining compensation. Our team of erb's palsy specialists can assist you to receive the maximum compensation you are entitled to. This will help you pay for the long-term cost of your child's disability and ensure that they are provided with everything they need to live a happy life.