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

Erb's Palsy is caused due to nerve damage in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can cause paralysis and other problems.

The birth injury could be caused by medical negligence. It often links to an uneasy or rush delivery particularly when the baby's shoulders become stuck during labour.

Causes

In rare cases it is possible for things to happen to go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors can help when your child suffers from a disability caused by medical negligence, such as Erb’s palsy.

Erb's palsy is a weakness that causes paralysis of varying degrees in the arm and shoulder that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to muscles, allowing them to move. The brachialplexus is abrasion that can result in the inability to move and grip the hand affected.

barrington hills erb's palsy lawsuit Palsy can be caused by a variety of causes. It could be caused by shoulder dystocia which is a complication of labour that happens when the baby's skull gets stuck above the pubic bone of the mother's. This is more likely in certain risk factors such as gestational diabetes or Vimeo the size of a baby or infant. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency, and it is crucial that doctors recognise this and know how to respond quickly in order to avoid complications for the baby. It can also happen when you use forceps, vacuum extractors, or an emergency Cesarean.

Symptoms

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

The brachialplexus is a nerve network that connects the spine to both sides of the neck. It regulates the movement and sensation of the fingers, arm and hand. If damaged, these nerves may cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected hand and arm.

It's usually the result of a medical error during childbirth, such as a doctor pulling too hard to free a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It could also occur when the baby is placed in the 'waiter' position during birth, which puts strain on the upper trunk C5-C6 nervous system that forms part of the Brachial Plexus.

The majority of infants who suffer from injuries to their limbs or legs will recover in six to 12 months. However certain cases are so severe that they require surgical intervention to repair the damaged nerves. If the nerves affected are not treated, a child may have permanent impairment that limits their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

For children who suffer from Erb's Palsy there are a number of treatments to lessen the effects, but the damage cannot be completely repaired. Some infants suffer from a significant impairment and cannot move their arm, hand or fingers.

Symptoms are caused by injury to the brachial plexus which provides all the muscles of the upper limb except for the trapezius. The most common injury is to the upper trunks of nerves C5 and C6. However is it possible to affect C7. This causes the classic Erb's palsy sign which is a waiter's tips type hand that is unable pronate or bend the forearm. In some instances, nerves are damaged and can result in Horner syndrome. It is evident by a drooping pupil and a constricted face.

It is possible to make a claim for medical negligence during the birth of an infant suffering from Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition can be caused by excessive force applied to the baby during birth. This can result from using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) in a way that is not correct. This can include a doctor who is unable to treat shoulder dystocia properly or decides to give birth via vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean birth would be more suitable.

Treatment

The brachialplexus nerves control movement and sensation in the hands and arms. If an infant 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 permanent disability that limits movement and sensation in their arm.

Treatment is focused on physical therapy that seeks to increase the range of motion of the injured arm. Stretching and passive exercises are a great way to achieve this. A physiotherapist might also suggest an extension splint which will help with movement and prevent stiffness. In extreme cases, a graft of nerves could be required to repair damaged nerves.

A compensation claim can assist a child with Erb's Palsy live life to the maximum, and gain access to essential equipment as well as education and medical. If you think your child's Erb's Palsy was the result of 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 could award families financial compensation for the care they have given their child. It could also give them satisfaction and call attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial nerve injury.

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

If your child is diagnosed with erb's palsy, and you suspect that medical negligence may have played a part it is essential to contact an experienced lawyer who specializes in Erb's Palsy whenever you can. They will be able to provide guidance on how to proceed and make sure that all paperwork is filed in time. This increases your chances of receiving compensation. Our team of erb's palsy specialists can help you get the maximum compensation you are entitled. This could help offset the long-term expenses of your child's disability, and ensure that they are provided with everything they need to lead a fulfilled life.