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

Erb's palsy can cause an injury to the nerve system in the arm, Erb's Palsy Law Firms shoulder and hand. It can lead to paralysis and other issues.

Medical negligence can result in this birth injury. This birth injury is often linked to a difficult or rushed birth.

Causes

The majority of births and pregnancies are a breeze, but on the rare occasion something can go wrong. If your child was born with a disability that was caused by medical negligence, for instance Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you seek compensation for their 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 to move. Injury to the brachial plexus may result in the inability to grip and move the hand that is affected.

There are several causes of Erb's syndrome. It is often caused by shoulder dystocia, a complication of labour that occurs when the baby's head becomes stuck above the mother's pubic bone. It is more frequent in women with certain risk factors such as gestational diabetes, babies that are too big or overweight. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is imperative that doctors recognize this and understand how to react quickly to avoid complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or a vacuum extractor during labour or by having an emergency Cesarean section.

Symptoms

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

The brachialplexus is a network of nerves which runs from the spine to both sides of the neck. It regulates movements and sensations of the fingers, arm and hand. If damaged, these nerves could cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected hand and arm.

It is usually caused by birth-related medical errors. For instance, a doctor pulling on the baby's shoulder to hard (shoulder dystocia). It could be caused by a painful delivery when the infant is placed in a 'waiter's tips position, which puts strain on the C5-C6 nerves of the upper trunk that are part of the brachial nerve.

The majority of infants who sustain injuries to their limbs recover within six to 12 months and are usually able to return home within six months, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgery with a nerve graft to fix the damaged nerves. If the nerves that are damaged are not repaired, the child could suffer an ongoing disability that impacts their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

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

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

You may be able to claim medical negligence in the event that your child suffers from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition can be caused when excessive force is applied to the baby during birth. This could be due to using the vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps improperly. This could include a doctor who fails to manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to do vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean delivery would have been more appropriate.

Treatment

The nerves of the brachial nerve control movements and sensations in the hand and arm. If a baby is identified as having the condition Erb's - it means that the nerves are damaged. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months but some suffer from an indefinite disability that limits movement and sensation in their arm.

Treatment is focused on 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 can also recommend a specialist extension splint to ease the movement and reduce stiffness. In the case of severe cases, a nerve transplant could be required to repair damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation could help a child suffering from an Erb's Palsy injury live their life to the fullest and access essential equipment, treatment, and support. If you think your child's Erb's Palsy was caused by an error in medical care during their birth, you may be able to make a claim for monetary damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit may award families financial compensation for the treatment of their child. It can also give them 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 costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child and other treatments and equipment required to treat their condition. They may also reimburse you for any loss of earnings or income due to the disability of your child.

You should contact an erb's palsy law firms palsy lawyer as soon as you suspect that medical negligence may have been involved. They can advise you on the best approach to take and make sure that all the necessary paperwork is filed before any deadlines expire. This increases the chances of getting compensation. Our team of erb's palsy lawsuits-palsy specialists can assist you in obtaining the most compensation to which you are entitled to. This will help pay for the long-term cost of your child's disability, and ensure that they have everything they require to live a happy life.