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 arm, shoulder and hand. This can result in paralysis as well as other problems.

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

Causes

On rare occasions, things can occur that go wrong. If your child was born with a disability caused by medical negligence, such as Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you claim compensation for their ongoing suffering.

Erb's Palsy is a condition of varying degrees or paralysis in the shoulder or arms, which affects the brachial nerves. These nerves transmit electrical signals to muscles, which allow them to move. Injuries to the brachial nerve could result in a loss of ability to grip and move the hand affected.

Erb's Palsy can be caused by a range of factors. It can be caused by shoulder dystocia as a result of labour that occurs when the baby's head gets stuck above the pubic bone of the mother's. It is more frequent with certain risk factors including gestational diabetes and the size of a baby or infant. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency, and it is crucial that doctors recognise this and understand how to react quickly to avoid complications for the baby. It could also occur if you use forceps, vacuum extractors, or an emergency Cesarean.

Symptoms

Erb's symptoms include a lack in movement in the affected hand or arm and a weak grip. Typically, the symptoms begin to manifest in the six to 12 months after birth.

The brachialplexus is an intricate network of nerves which run from the spine to both sides of the neck. They control motion and sensation in the arm, hand and fingers. When these nerves are damaged, they may cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.

It's often caused by an error made by a doctor during childbirth, such as the doctor pulling too hard to release a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It can be caused by a painful birth, especially if the infant is placed in a 'waiter's tips position, which puts tension on the upper trunk C5-C6 nerves which form part of the brachial plexus.

Most infants who suffer an injury from a stretch will recover in six to 12 months. However, some cases are so severe that they require surgical intervention to repair the nerves damaged. If the nerves damaged are not repaired, children may suffer from a permanent disability affecting their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

For children with Erb's Palsy there are a variety of treatments that can reduce the impact, but the injury will never be fully healed. Some infants are left with a significant impairment and cannot move their arms, hands or fingers.

The damage to the brachial-plexus which innervates the upper limb muscles, with the exception of the trapezius can cause symptoms. The injury is usually to the upper nerves of C5 or C6. However it may also affect C7. This is the reason for the Erb's palsy sign, a waiter tip-like hand that is unable to pronate or bend the forearm. In some cases, the injured nerves can also cause Horner's disease, a pupil that is drooping and a constricted chin.

It is possible to make a claim for medical negligence in a birth that leads to a child suffering with Erb's Palsy. This is due to the fact that this condition is usually caused by excessive force being imposed on the baby during the birth process. This includes using the vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps that are not used correctly. It could also be doctors not managing shoulder dystocia correctly or opting to have an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean section earlier would be more appropriate.

Treatment

The nerves of the brachial plexus manage movement and feel in the hand and arm. If a baby is identified with Erb's Palsy it indicates that nerves are injured. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months, but some suffer from a permanent disability that limits movement and sensation in their arm.

The treatment is centered around physical therapy that seeks to increase the range of motion of the injured arm. This can be achieved in different ways, such as stretching exercises, as well as passive exercises. A physiotherapist can also suggest an extension splint that is specifically designed to aid in the movement and reduce stiffness. Surgical intervention may be necessary in the most severe cases to repair damaged nerves with an graft of nerves.

A compensation claim can aid a child with Erb's Palsy live life to the fullest and gain access to essential equipment, education, and care. If you believe that your child's illness was caused by an error made by a doctor at birth, you could be able to claim an Erb's Palsy claim for damages in the form of money.

Compensation

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

Settlements in the Erb's palsy lawsuit can assist in covering the cost of physiotherapy for your child and other equipment and treatments to help their condition. You may also be compensated for any lost income or earnings due to the impairment of your child.

You should contact an buckeye erb's palsy lawyer palsy lawyer as soon as you suspect that medical negligence was involved. They can advise you on the most effective way to proceed and ensure all necessary paperwork is filed before any deadlines expire. This will give you the best chances of securing compensation. Our team of experts in torrington erb's palsy lawsuit-palsy can assist you in obtaining the most compensation to which you are entitled. 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.