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

Erb's spalsy is caused by damage to the nerve network in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can result in paralysis as well as a variety of other issues.

This birth injury can be caused by medical negligence. The birth injury is usually caused by a difficult or rushed 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 seek compensation for their ongoing suffering.

Erb's palsy is a weakness that causes paralysis of varying degrees in the shoulder and arm that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves transmit electrical messages to the muscles in order to enable them to move. Damage to the brachial tract can result in an inability to grip and move the hand affected.

There are several causes of Erb's palsy. 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. It is more frequent in certain risk factors such as gestational diabetes and an infant or baby who is too large. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is essential that doctors recognise this and be able to respond quickly to prevent complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or an extractor Erb's Palsy vacuum during labour or even by having an emergency Cesarean section.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of Erb's palsy include a lack of motion in the affected hand or arm and a weak grip. Typically, the symptoms show in the six 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 movement and sensation in the hand, arm and fingers. If they become damaged, the nerves may cause weakness or partial paralysis in the affected hand and arm.

It is often the result of medical errors during childbirth. For instance doctors pulling on the baby's shoulder too much (shoulder dystocia). It can also be caused when the baby is placed in the 'waiter tip' position during birth which places strain on the C5-C6 upper trunk nerve system, which is part of the Brachial Plexus.

Most infants who sustain a stretch injury recover within six to 12 months in most cases, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention with a nerve graft to fix the damaged nerves. If the nerves that are damaged are not treated and rehabilitated, a child could suffer permanent impairment that hinders their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

For children with erb's palsy attorney Palsy there are a number of treatments that can reduce the effects, but the damage is not able to be completely repaired. Some infants are left with a significant impairment and cannot move their arm, hand or fingers.

The symptoms are caused by an injury to the brachial plexus, which innervates all the muscles of the upper limb, with the exception for the trapezius. The most common injury is to the upper trunks of nerves C5 and C6. However is it also affecting C7. This results in the classical sign of Erb's palsy which is a waiter's tips type hand that is unable to pronate or flex the forearm. In some instances, injured nerves also cause Horner's syndrome, Erb's Palsy which is a drooping of the pupil and a constricted chin.

It is possible to file an action for medical negligence during the birth that causes a child suffering from Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition is typically caused by excessive force applied to the baby during birth. This can include using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. This could include a doctor who is unable to treat shoulder dystocia properly or decides to have an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean birth would have been more appropriate.

Treatment

The nerves of the brachialplexus control the movement and feel of the arm and hands. When a baby is diagnosed as having Erb's Palsy, it means that the nerves have been injured. Most babies recover within 6 to 12 months, however some suffer from a permanent disability affecting the movement and sensation of their arm.

The treatment is centered around physical therapy that aims to increase the range of motion in the injured arm. Stretching and exercises for passive exercise can be used to accomplish this. A physiotherapist can also recommend an extension splint designed by a specialist to ease movement and help prevent stiffness. In severe cases, a graft of nerves may be needed to reconstruct damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation can aid a child suffering from an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest and access essential equipment, care, education and support. If you think that your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during their birth, then you could be able to file an Erb's Palsy claim for damages in the form of money.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit can award families financial compensation to help with the cost of their child's treatment. It could also give them an awareness of justice and call attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial plexus injury.

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements can help cover the cost of physiotherapy for your child, as well as other equipment and treatments needed to help their condition. They also can compensate you for any loss of income or earnings because of your child's disability.

If your child is diagnosed with erb's palsy and you suspect medical negligence played a role, it is important to contact an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer as soon as you can. They can guide you on the most effective way to proceed and ensure that all documents are filed before any deadlines end. This will increase your chances of receiving compensation. Our team of expert erb's palsy lawyers can help you get the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This will help pay for the long-term costs of your child's disability and ensure that they are provided with everything they need to live a fulfilling life.