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

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

Medical negligence can lead to this birth injury. The birth injury is usually due to a challenging or rushed delivery.

Causes

Pregnancies and births usually are a breeze, however on the rare occasion something goes wrong. If your child was born with a disability caused by medical negligence, such as Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you seek compensation for the ongoing suffering.

Erb's palsy is a condition that causes weakness or paralysis that is varying in the arm and shoulder that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves transmit electrical signals to the muscles, allowing them to move. Abrachial plexus injury could result in a loss of ability to grip and move the affected hand.

Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of factors. Erb's palsy is often caused by shoulder dystocia which is a condition that occurs when the baby's skull is stuck above the mother's pubic bone. It can happen more frequently when there are certain risk factors, such as gestational diabetes and an infant or child who is large. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is imperative that doctors are aware of this and are able to respond quickly to prevent complications for the baby. It can also happen when you use forceps, vacuum extractors or emergency Cesarean.

Signs and symptoms

Erb's Palsy is characterised by a lack of movement of the arm or hand affected, as well as an inability to grip. Symptoms typically appear between six and twelve months after birth.

The brachialplexus is a set of nerves that runs from the spine to both sides of the neck, controlling movement and sensation in the hand, arm and fingers. When these nerves are damaged, they could cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm or hand.

It is often the result of medical errors during childbirth. For instance a doctor pressing on the baby's shoulder to hard (shoulder dystocia). It can also happen when the baby is placed in the 'waiter tip' position during the delivery and puts strain on the C5-C6 upper trunk nerve system, which is part of the Brachial Plexus.

Most infants who sustain an injury to their stretch will recover within six to 12 months and are usually able to return home within six months, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention with a nerve graft in order to fix the damaged nerves. If the nerves affected are not repaired and rehabilitated, a child could suffer permanent impairment that hinders their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

There are several treatments for children with Erb’s Palsy however, the damage is not fully healed. Some infants suffer from a significant impairment and cannot move their arm, hand or fingers.

The injury to the brachial-plexus, which innervates the upper limb muscles, except for the trapezius creates symptoms. The injury usually affects the upper nerves C5 as well as C6 and less frequently affects C7. This is the reason for the Erb's-Palsy sign, a hand that resembles a waiter's tip, unable to pronate or stretch the forearm. In certain cases, damaged nerves can also cause Horner syndrome. It is manifested by pupils that are drooping as well as a tightened face.

It is possible to bring an action for medical negligence at the time of a birth that leads to the child being diagnosed with Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition is often caused by excessive force placed on the baby during the delivery process. This could be due to using vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps improperly. It could also involve the doctor not managing shoulder dystocia correctly or deciding to perform vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean section earlier would be more suitable.

Treatment

The brachialplexus's nerves control the movement and Erb's palsy lawsuit feel of the hands and arm. If a baby is diagnosed with Erb's spalsy, this means the nerves have been injured. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months but some are left with an indefinite disability that limits movement and sensation in their arm.

Physical therapy can be used to improve the range of motion. Stretching and exercises for passive exercise can be utilized to achieve this. A physiotherapist might also suggest an extension splint to help with movement and prevent stiffness. In the most severe cases, a graft of nerves may be needed to reconstruct damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation may help a child with an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest extent and access essential equipment, education, and support. If you believe your child's Palsy was the result of an error in medical treatment during their birth, then you might be able file a claim for financial damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit can give families financial compensation for the care they have given their child. It may also give them an appreciation for justice and draw attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial plexus injury.

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements will help pay for the cost of physiotherapy treatments for your child, as well as other equipment and treatments to aid their condition. You may also be compensated for any loss of income or earnings resulting from the disability of your child.

It is recommended to contact an Erb's palsy lawyer immediately if you suspect that medical negligence was the cause. They can offer advice on how to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed in time. This will give you the highest chances of getting compensation. Our team of experts in erb's-palsy can help you get the most money you're entitled to. This can help you with the long-term cost of your child's disability and ensure that they have everything they require to lead a fulfilling, healthy life.