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

Erb's paralysis is caused by an injury to the nerve system in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can cause paralysis, as well as other issues.

This birth injury can be caused by medical negligence. This birth injury is often due to a challenging or premature delivery.

Causes

On rare occasions, things can happen to go wrong. If your child was born with a disability caused by medical negligence, for instance Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you obtain compensation for their ongoing suffering.

Erb's palsy can be described as a weakness or paralysis in varying degrees within the shoulder and arm affected by the brachial nerves. These nerves are responsible for transmitting electrical messages to the muscles in order to enable them to move. Abrachial plexus injury can cause an inability to grasp and move the hand affected.

There are a number of causes of Erb's palsy. Erb's Palsy can be caused by shoulder Dystocia, which is a condition that occurs when the baby's skull gets stuck above the mother's pubic bone. It is more prevalent for women who have risk factors, such as gestational diabetes, large infants or babies. Shoulder dystocia is an emergency medical situation. It is essential for doctors to recognize this and know what to do to avoid complications. It can also occur when you use forceps, vacuum extractors, or an emergency Cesarean.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of Erb's palsy are a lack of movement in the affected hand or arm and a weak grip. Typically, symptoms manifest in the six to 12 months following birth.

The brachialplexus is an intricate network of nerves that run from the spine to both sides of the neck. They control motion and sensation in the arm, hand and fingers. If they become damaged, the nerves can cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and hand.

It is often caused by medical errors during childbirth. For example a doctor pressing on the baby's shoulder too much (shoulder dystocia). It can also happen when the baby is placed in the 'waiter' position during the delivery, which puts strain on the upper-trunk C5-C6 nervous system that forms part of the Brachial Plexus.

Most infants who suffer from an injury from a stretch 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 nerves that have been injured. If the nerves that are damaged do not get repaired the child may suffer a permanent disability that affects their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

For children suffering from Erb's Palsy there are a number of treatments that can reduce the effects, but the damage cannot be completely repaired. Some infants are left with significant disability and are unable to move their arms, hands or fingers.

The injury to the brachial-plexus which innervates the upper leg muscles, excluding the trapezius, creates symptoms. The injury typically affects the upper nerves C5 & C6 and Erb's Palsy less frequently affects C7. This results in the classical sign of Erb's palsy, a waiter's tip type hand that is unable pronate or bend the forearm. In some cases, the nerves that are damaged can cause Horner syndrome. This is characterized by pupils that are drooping as well as a constricted face.

It is possible to make a claim for medical negligence at the time of a birth that leads to a child suffering with Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition is typically caused by excessive force being applied to the baby during delivery. This can be caused by using forceps or a ventouse (vacuum extraction) in a way that is not correct. This could be a result of a doctor who isn't able to treat shoulder dystocia properly or decides to perform the vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean would be more suitable.

Treatment

The nerves that comprise the brachial system control movement and feel in the hand Erb's Palsy and arm. If a baby's diagnosis is as having erb's palsy attorney Palsy, it indicates that the nerves are damaged. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months but some suffer from permanent disabilities that limit movement and sensation in their arm.

Treatment is focused on physical therapy, which is designed to increase the range of motion of the injured arm. This can be achieved in a variety of ways including stretching exercises and passive exercises. A physiotherapist may also recommend an extension splint to help with movement and prevent stiffness. Surgical intervention may be necessary in the most severe cases to reconstruct damaged nerves through a nerve graft.

A claim for compensation can help a child suffering from an Erb's Palsy injury live their life to the fullest and have access to essential equipment, education, and support. If you believe your child's condition was caused by an error in medical care at the time of their birth, you could be able to submit an Erb's Palsy claim for damages in the form of money.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit may award families financial compensation that will help with the cost of their child's treatment. It can also help them feel satisfaction and make medical professionals aware of who might have prevented a brachial nerve injury.

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements can be used to pay for the costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child in addition to other equipment and treatments to support their condition. You could also receive compensation for any lost income or earnings due to the impairment of your child.

If your child has been diagnosed with Erb's palsy and you suspect medical negligence may have played a part in the diagnosis, it is crucial to speak with an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer immediately. They can offer suggestions on how you can proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed on time. This will give you the highest chances of getting compensation. Our team of specialist erb's palsy lawyers can help you claim the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This can help you with the long-term costs associated with your child's handicap and ensure that they have everything they need to lead a happy, healthy life.