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

Erb's palsy can cause damage to the nerve system in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can result in paralysis and a range of other problems.

This birth injury can be the result of medical negligence. It often links to a challenging or rushed delivery, especially when the baby's shoulders become stuck during labour.

Causes

In rare cases things can happen to go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors will assist you should your child suffer from an impairment that was caused by medical negligence such as Erb's Palsy.

Erb's Palsy is a weakness that can be varying in severity or even paralysis of the shoulder and arms that affects the brachial nerves. These nerves are responsible for sending electrical signals to muscles so that they can move. Injuries to the brachial nerve may result in the inability to grip and move the hand affected.

erb's palsy lawsuit Palsy can be caused by a variety of factors. Erb's Palsy can be caused by shoulder dystocia which is a condition that occurs when the baby's head gets stuck above the mother’s pubic bone. It is more frequent in certain risk factors such as gestational diabetes and the size of a baby or infant. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is imperative that doctors recognize this and understand how to respond quickly to prevent complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or a vacuum extractor during labour or through an emergency Cesarean section.

Symptoms

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

The brachialplexus is an intricate network of nerves which run from the spine down both sides of the neck. They control movements and sensations in the arm, Vimeo hand and fingers. If damaged, these nerves may cause weakness or partial paralysis in the affected hand and arm.

It is often the result of medical mistakes during childbirth. For instance the doctor pushing on the baby's shoulder to hard (shoulder dystocia). It could also be caused by a traumatic delivery when the infant is placed in a 'waiter's tips' position, which causes strain on the C5-C6 upper trunk nerves which form part of the brachial nerve.

The majority of infants who suffer an injury from a stretch recover within six to twelve months and vimeo are usually able to return home within six months, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgery using a nerve graft to fix the damaged nerves. If the nerves affected don't get repaired then a child could be left with an indefinite disability that limits their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

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

The symptoms are caused by a trauma to the brachial plexus, which connects all the muscles of the upper limb except for the trapezius. The injury typically affects the upper trunk of nerves C5 and C6. It is less likely to affect C7. This is the reason for the Erb's-Palsy sign, a waiter tip-like hand that cannot pronate or stretch the forearm. In some cases the injured nerves can also cause Horner's syndrome, Vimeo which is a pupil that droops and a constricted chin.

You can sue for medical negligence when your child is suffering from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is often caused by the excessive force that is imposed on the baby during the birth process. This could include using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) in a way that is not correct. This could include a doctor who isn't able to treat shoulder dystocia properly or decides to do the vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean birth would be more appropriate.

Treatment

The nerves of the brachial plexus manage movements and sensations in the arm and hand. If a baby is identified as having Erb's palsy, it indicates that the nerves are damaged. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, but there are some who suffer from a permanent impairment that limits movement and sensation in their arm.

Physical therapy is used to increase the range of motion. Passive exercises and stretching can be utilized to achieve this. A physiotherapist can also suggest a specialist extension splint to ease the movement and reduce stiffness. In extreme cases, a nerve graft may be needed to reconstruct damaged nerves.

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

Compensation

A successful lawsuit may award families financial compensation to help pay for the treatment of their child. It may also provide them with satisfaction and make medical professionals aware of who could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.

Settlements for lawsuits involving Erb's palsy will cover the cost of physiotherapy in addition to any other equipment or treatments needed to aid your child's needs. They also offer compensation for any loss of earnings or income because of your child's disability.

If your child has been diagnosed with erb's palsy, and you suspect that medical negligence may have played a part in the diagnosis, it is crucial to contact an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer whenever you can. They can assist you in the best approach to take and ensure all necessary paperwork is filed prior to when any deadlines end. This will give you the highest chance of success in securing compensation. Our team of erb's-palsy specialists can help you get the maximum compensation you are entitled. This will help you pay for the long-term costs of your child's disability, and ensure that they have everything they require to lead a fulfilled life.