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

Erb's Palsy is caused by 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. It often links to the birth process being rushed or difficult and, in particular, when the baby's shoulders are stuck during labour.

Causes

In rare instances it is possible for things to occur that go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors can 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 condition that can be varying in severity or even paralysis in the shoulder or arms, affecting the brachial nerves. These nerves transmit electrical signals to muscles in order to enable them to move. Brachialplexus injuries can result in the inability to move and grasp the hand affected by the injury.

Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of causes. Erb's palsy can be caused by shoulder Dystocia, which is a complication that occurs when the baby's skull gets stuck above the mother’s pubic bone. It is more frequent with certain risk factors, like gestational diabetes, and an infant or child who is large. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is essential that doctors are aware of 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 even by having an emergency Cesarean section.

Signs and symptoms

Erb's spalsy is identified by a lack of movement of the hand or arm affected, as well as an inability to grip. The symptoms usually manifest between six and twelve months after the birth.

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves which run from the spine down both sides of the neck. They control sensation and movement in the arm, hand and fingers. If damaged, these nerves can cause weakness or partial paralysis in the affected hand and arm.

It is often caused by medical errors during childbirth. For example the doctor pushing on the baby's shoulder to hard (shoulder dystocia). It could also result from a violent delivery when the infant is held in a 'waiter's point position, which causes tension on the C5-C6 nerves of the upper trunk which are part of the brachial plexus.

The majority of infants who sustain an injury to their stretch will recover within six to 12 months however, there are some cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention with a nerve graft to repair the injured nerves. If the nerves damaged do not get repaired and law rehabilitated, a child could suffer permanent impairment that hinders their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

There are many treatments for children suffering from erb's palsy law firms Palsy however the damage can not be fully repaired. Certain infants suffer from a significant disability and are unable move their arm, hand, or fingers.

Symptoms are caused by injury to the brachial area which provides all the muscles of the upper limb, with the exception for the trapezius. The injury usually affects the upper trunks of nerves C5 or C6. Infrequently is it also affecting C7. This results in the classical erb's palsy law firm syndrome which is a type of waiter's hand which cannot pronate or bend 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.

You can file a claim for medical negligence in the event that your child suffers from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is usually caused by excessive force being applied to the baby during birth. This can include using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. It can also mean a doctor not managing shoulder dystocia properly or opting to have an breech or vaginal birth in a situation where a caesarean birth would have been more appropriate.

Treatment

The brachialplexus nerves control movement and sensation in the hands and arms. If you find a baby with Erb's palsy, it is a sign that the nerves have been damaged. Most babies recover within 6 to 12 months but some suffer from an ongoing disability that affects movement and sensation in their arm.

Treatment is focused on physical therapy, which is designed to increase the range of motion in the injured arm. This can be achieved in different ways, such as stretching exercises, as well as passive exercises. A physiotherapist might also suggest an extension splint which will help with movement and prevent stiffness. Surgical intervention is often required in cases of extreme severity to repair damaged nerves using an graft of nerves.

A claim for compensation can aid a child suffering from an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest, and access essential equipment, education, and support. If you believe that your child's Erb's Palsy was caused by an error in medical treatment during their birth, then you might be able make a claim for monetary damages.

Compensation

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

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements will help pay for the costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child as well as other equipment and treatments needed to help their condition. You could also be compensated for any loss of income or earnings due to the disability of your child.

If your child has been diagnosed with erb's palsy and you suspect medical negligence may have been the reason, it is important to contact an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer whenever you can. They can give you advice on how to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed on time. This will give you the greatest chance of securing compensation. Our team of expert erb's palsy lawyers can help you get the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to. This can help you with the long-term cost of your child's disabilities and make sure that they have everything they require to lead a happy, healthy life.