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

Erb's palsy is an injury to the nerve network in the shoulder, arm and hand. This can lead to paralysis and a range of other issues.

This birth injury can be caused by medical negligence. It can be linked to an uneasy or rushed birth and, in particular, when the baby's shoulders become stuck during labor.

Causes

In rare instances there are occasions when things occur that go wrong. If your child was born with a disability caused by medical negligence, like Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you seek compensation for the ongoing suffering.

Erb's palsy is a weakness that causes paralysis that is varying in the shoulder and arm and affecting the brachial nerves. These nerves transmit electrical messages to the muscles to allow them move. Damage to the brachial tract could result in a loss of ability to grasp and move the hand in the affected area.

There are several causes of Erb's palsy. It can be caused by shoulder dystocia as a result of labour that happens when the baby's head gets stuck above the pubic bone of the mother's. This can be more common with certain risk factors like gestational diabetes, and an infant or baby who is too large. Shoulder dystocia could be an emergency medical condition. It is essential for doctors to recognize this and be aware of the best way to treat it to prevent complications. It can also happen if you use forceps, vacuum extractors or emergency Cesarean.

Signs and Erb's Palsy symptoms

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

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

It is often the result of medical mistakes during childbirth. For instance doctors pulling on the baby's shoulder too hard (shoulder dystocia). It can also happen when the baby is placed in the 'waiter' tip position during the delivery which places strain on the upper-trunk C5-C6 nervous system, which forms part of the Brachial Plexus.

Most infants who sustain injuries to their limbs recover within six to twelve months in most cases, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention with a nerve graft in order to fix the damaged nerves. If the nerves that are damaged are not treated, a child may have 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 to lessen the impact, but the injury is not able to be completely repaired. Certain infants suffer from a significant disability and are unable move their arm, hand or fingers.

The damage to the brachial-plexus which innervates the upper limb muscles, with the exception of the trapezius creates symptoms. The injury usually affects the upper nerves C5 as well as C6 but less often affects C7. This results in the classic sign of Erb's palsy which is a type of waiter's hand that cannot pronate, or stretch the forearm. In some cases, the nerves that are injured can cause Horner's Syndrome, a pupil that droops and a constricted chin.

It is possible to bring an action for medical negligence at the time of the birth that causes the child being diagnosed 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 a vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps used incorrectly. This could include a doctor who isn't able to manage shoulder dystocia properly, or decides to have a vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean delivery would be more appropriate.

Treatment

The nerves that form the brachial nerve control movements and sensations in the hand and arm. When a baby is diagnosed as having Erb's Palsy, it means that nerves are injured. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months however some suffer from permanent disabilities that limit movement and sensation in their arm.

The treatment is centered around physical therapy, which is designed to improve the range of motion of the injured arm. It can be done in various ways, including stretching exercises, as well as passive exercises. A physiotherapist can also suggest an extension splint specifically designed to help with movements and reduce stiffness. In extreme instances, a nerve graft could be needed to rebuild damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation could assist a child suffering an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest extent and access essential equipment, medical care, and support. If you believe that your child's condition is the result of an error in medical care during their birth, then you might be able to file an Erb's Palsy claim for monetary damages.

Compensation

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

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements can be used to pay for the cost of physiotherapy treatments for your child as well as other equipment and treatments to treat their condition. You may also be compensated for any lost income or earnings due to the disability of your child.

If your child is diagnosed with erb's palsy and you believe that medical negligence may have been the reason in the diagnosis, it is crucial to reach out to an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer immediately. They can assist you in the most effective way to proceed and make sure that all the necessary documents are filed before any deadlines expire. This increases your chances of receiving compensation. Our team of expert erb's palsy lawyers can help you obtain the maximum amount of compensation you're entitled to. This can help with the long-term expenses of your child's disabilities and ensure they have everything they need to lead a fulfilled life.