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 lead to paralysis and other issues.

Medical negligence can lead to this birth injury. This birth injury is typically caused by a difficult or premature delivery.

Causes

The majority of births and pregnancies go smoothly, but on the rare occasion something can go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors can help should your child suffer from a disability caused by medical negligence such as Erb's palsy.

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

Erb's Palsy can be caused by a range of factors. It is often caused by shoulder dystocia as a result of labour that occurs when the baby's head becomes stuck above the pubic bone of the mother's. It is more frequent with certain risk factors like gestational diabetes, and an infant or baby who is too large. Shoulder dystocia can be an emergency medical condition. It is important for doctors to recognize this and be aware of what to do to avoid complications. It can also happen when you use forceps, vacuum extractors, or have an emergency Cesarean.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Erb's palsy include a lack of motion in the affected hand or arm and weak grip strength. Symptoms usually appear between six and twelve months after the birth.

The brachialplexus is an intricate network of nerves that extend from the spine down both sides of the neck, regulating sensation and movement in the arm, hand and fingers. When these nerves are damaged, they can cause weakness and partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.

It is often caused by medical errors that occur during childbirth. For instance, a doctor pulling on the baby's shoulder to hard (shoulder dystocia). It could also occur when the baby is placed in the 'waiter' position during delivery and puts strain on the C5-C6 upper trunk nerve system that is part of the Brachial Plexus.

The majority of infants who suffer from a stretch injury will recover in six to 12 months. However certain cases are so severe that they require surgery to repair the damaged nerves. If the nerves affected don't get repaired and rehabilitated, a child could suffer an indefinite disability that limits their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

For children with Erb's Palsy there are a variety of treatments that can reduce the effects, however the injury is not able to be completely repaired. Some infants are left with a significant disability and are unable to move their hand, arm or fingers.

The damage to the brachial-plexus which innervates the upper leg muscles, excluding the trapezius, causes symptoms. The injury typically affects the upper nerves C5 & C6 but less frequently affects C7. This causes the classic Erb's syndrome which is a waiter's tips type hand that cannot pronate, or extend the forearm. In some cases the injured nerves also cause Horner's disease, a pupil that is drooping and a chin that is constricted.

You can sue for medical negligence when your child is suffering from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because this condition is usually caused by excessive force being imposed on the baby during the birth process. This can be caused by using the vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps that are not used correctly. This could include a doctor who fails to control shoulder dystocia correctly, or decides to give birth via an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean would have been more appropriate.

Treatment

The nerves of the brachial plexus manage movement and feel in the arm and hand. If an infant is diagnosed with Erb's palsy it means the nerves have been injured. Most babies recover in six to 12 months. However, some are left with permanent disabilities that limit movement and sensation in their arm.

Physical therapy is utilized to increase the range of motion. It can be done in various ways, including passive exercises and stretching. A physiotherapist can also suggest an extension splint that is specifically designed to aid in the movement and reduce stiffness. In the most severe cases, a nerve graft may be needed to reconstruct damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation can assist a child suffering an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest and access essential equipment, medical care, and assistance. If you think your child's Erb's Palsy was caused by an error in medical care during their birth, then you may be able to file a claim for financial damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit may be able to award families financial compensation in exchange for the treatment they received from their child. It may also provide them with satisfaction and call attention to medical professionals who might have prevented a brachial plexus injury.

Settlements from the Erb's Palsy lawsuits can be used to pay for the cost of physiotherapy for your child and other equipment and treatments needed to support their condition. They may also reimburse you for any loss of income or earnings due to your child's disability.

If your child is diagnosed with erb's palsy attorneys palsy and you believe that medical negligence may have played a part, it is important to get in touch with an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer immediately. They can offer advice on how to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed in time. This will give you the highest chance of success in securing compensation. Our team of expert erb's palsy lawyers can help you claim the highest amount of compensation you are entitled to. This will help pay for the long-term cost of your child's disability and make sure that they have everything they need to live a full and happy life.