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

Erb's Palsy is caused due to damage to the nerve system in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can lead to paralysis and a range of other issues.

Medical negligence could cause this birth injury. This birth injury is usually related to a difficult or premature delivery.

Causes

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

Erb's palsy is a weakness or paralysis that is varying in the shoulder and arm affected by the brachial nerves. These nerves are responsible for sending electrical signals to muscles in order to enable them to move. The brachialplexus is abrasion that can result in the inability to move and grip the hand that is affected.

There are a variety 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 is stuck above the mother’s pubic bone. It is more frequent in women with risk factors such as gestational diabetics and large infants or Erb's palsy babies. Shoulder dystocia can be an emergency medical condition. It is important for doctors to be aware of this and know what to do to prevent complications. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or erb's palsy the use of a vacuum extractor during labor or through an emergency Cesarean section.

Signs and symptoms

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

The brachialplexus is a nerve network that runs from the spine to both sides of the neck. It controls the movement and sensation of the fingers, arm, and hand. If damaged, these nerves may cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and hand.

It is often the result of medical errors that occur during childbirth. For instance, a doctor pulling on the baby's shoulder too hard (shoulder dystocia). It could also result from a traumatizing birth, especially if the infant is placed in a 'waiter's tip position, which causes strain on the C5-C6 nerves of the upper trunk that form part of the brachial plexus.

The majority of infants who suffer from a stretch injury will recover in six to 12 months. However there are cases that are so severe that they require surgery to repair the damaged nerves. If the nerves damaged aren't repaired, the child could suffer an ongoing disability that impacts their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

For children with Erb's Palsy there are a number of treatments to lessen the effects but the injury will never be fully healed. Some infants have a significant disability and are unable move their arms, hands or fingers.

The symptoms are caused by an injury to the brachial nerve plexus that is the main muscle of the upper limb, except for the trapezius. The injury is usually to the upper trunks of nerves C5 or C6. It is less often, however it may also affect C7. This results in the classical sign of Erb's palsy which is a waiter's tips type hand that cannot pronate, or flex the forearm. In a few cases, nerves that are injured can cause Horner's syndrome, a drooping of the pupil and a chin that is constricted.

It is possible to bring a claim for medical negligence during the birth process that results in a child suffering from Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition is usually caused by excessive force exerted on the baby during the birth process. This can be caused by using vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps in a way that is not properly. This could include a doctor who is unable to manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to do the vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean birth would have been more suitable.

Treatment

The nerves that form the brachial system control movement and feel in the arm and hand. If a baby is identified as having Erb's Palsy, it means that the nerves are damaged. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, however there are some who suffer from a permanent impairment that affects movement and sensation in their arm.

The treatment is centered around physical therapy which aims to improve the range of motion of the injured arm. Stretching and passive exercises can be utilized to achieve this. A physiotherapist may also suggest a specialist extension splint to help with flexibility and prevent stiffness. In the case of severe cases, a nerve transplant 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 and access essential equipment, medical care, and assistance. If you suspect that your child's condition was caused by an error in medical care during their birth, then you may be eligible to claim an Erb's Palsy claim for monetary damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit can give families financial compensation for the treatment they received from their child. It could also provide them with a an appreciation for justice and draw attention to medical professionals that could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements will help pay for the cost of physiotherapy treatments for your child and other treatments and equipment needed to help their condition. You may 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 that medical negligence was the cause, it is important to reach out to an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer as soon as you can. They will be able to provide guidance on how to proceed and make sure that all paperwork is filed on time. This will give you the best chance of securing compensation. Our team of specialist erb's palsy lawyers can help you claim the highest amount of compensation you're entitled to. This will help you pay for the long-term expenses of your child's disability and make sure that they have everything they require to lead a fulfilled life.