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

Erb's palsy is an injury to the nerve system in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can cause paralysis and other problems.

The birth injury could be caused by medical negligence. It can result in a challenging or rushed delivery particularly when the baby's shoulders become stuck during labour.

Causes

On rare occasions, things can be a mess. Hudgell Solicitors can assist you should your child suffer from a disability caused by medical malpractice, such as Erb’s palsy.

Erb's palsy can be described as a weakness or paralysis of various degrees in the shoulder and arm that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to the muscles, allowing them to move. Brachialplexus injuries can cause the hand to be unable to move and grasp the hand affected by the injury.

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 becomes stuck above the mother's pubic bone. This is more likely when there are certain risk factors, including gestational diabetes and an infant or child who is large. Shoulder dystocia is an emergency medical condition. It is important for doctors to recognize this and be aware of the best way to treat it to prevent complications. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or an extractor vacuum during labour or through an emergency Cesarean section.

Signs and symptoms

Erb's palsy is defined by a lack in movement of the hand or arm affected and a weak grip. Typically, the symptoms begin to manifest within 6 to 12 months after birth.

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that extend from the spine along both sides of the neck, regulating motion and sensation in the hand, arm and fingers. If they are damaged, these nerves can lead to weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and hand.

It's usually caused by a medical error during childbirth, such as an unintentional pull by a doctor to free the baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It can also be caused by a painful birth when the baby is held in a 'waiter's tippy' position, which causes tension on the upper trunk C5-C6 nerves that form part of the brachial plexus.

The majority of infants who suffer from an injury to their stretch will recover within six to 12 months. However, some cases are so severe that they require surgical intervention to repair the nerves damaged. If the nerves that are damaged are not treated, the child may be left with permanent impairment that limits their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

For children with Erb's Palsy there are a number of treatments to lessen the impact, but the injury can never be fully repaired. A few infants suffer from significant disability and are unable to move their hand, arm or fingers.

The symptoms are caused by an injury to the brachial area which provides all the muscles of the upper limb except for the trapezius. The injury is usually affecting the upper nerves C5 as well as C6 but less frequently affects C7. This is the reason for the Erb's-Palsy sign, a waiter tip-like hand that is unable to pronate nor bend the forearm. In some instances, nerves that are injured can cause Horner's syndrome, which is a pupils that are drooping, and a chin that is constricted.

You can claim medical negligence when your child is suffering from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is due to the fact that this condition is usually caused by the excessive force that is imposed on the baby during the delivery process. This can be caused by using the vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps in a way that is not properly. This could include a doctor who fails to manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to do an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean section would be more appropriate.

Treatment

The nerves of the brachialplexus regulate movement and sensation in the hands and arm. If an infant is diagnosed with Erb's palsy it means the nerves have been damaged. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months, however some have a permanent disability which affects their movement and the sensation in their arm.

Physical therapy is utilized to increase the range of motion. This can be achieved in many ways, including stretching exercises, as well as passive exercises. A physiotherapist may also suggest an extension splint designed by a specialist to ease movements and reduce stiffness. Surgery may be required in cases of extreme severity to repair damaged nerves by the use of a nerve graft.

A claim for compensation could 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 think that your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during their birth, then you might be able to file an erb's palsy attorneys Palsy claim for damages in the form of money.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit could give families financial compensation for the treatment they received from their child. It may also give them an understanding of justice and bring attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements can help cover the costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child, as well as other equipment and treatments to help their condition. You could also receive compensation for any loss of income or earnings due to the impairment of your child.

You should seek out an Erb's Palsy lawyer immediately if you suspect that medical negligence was involved. They will be able to advise you on the best way to move forward and make sure that all the necessary paperwork is filed prior to when any deadlines expire. This increases your chances of receiving compensation. Our team of erb's-palsy specialists can assist you in obtaining the maximum amount of compensation to which you are entitled. This can help with the long-term costs of your child's disability, and ensure they have everything they need to live a fulfilling life.