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

Erb's palsy is caused by damage to the nerve network in the shoulder, arm and hand. It can lead to paralysis, as well as other problems.

This birth injury can be the result of medical negligence. It can result in a challenging or rushed delivery in particular when the baby's shoulders get stuck during labour.

Causes

The majority of births and pregnancies go smoothly, but on the rare occasion things can go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors will help you should your child suffer from a disability that was caused by medical negligence such as Erb's Palsy.

Erb's Palsy is a condition of various degrees or paralysis of the shoulder and arms, which affects the brachial nerves. These nerves transmit electrical signals to muscles so that they can move. Abrachial plexus injury can result in an inability to grasp and move the hand in the affected area.

There are a number of causes of Erb's palsy. Erb's Palsy can be caused by shoulder Dystocia, which is a complication that occurs when the baby's skull gets 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 a medical emergency and it is imperative to recognize this and know how to react quickly to avoid complications for the baby. It could also occur by forceps, vacuum extractors, or an emergency Cesarean.

Symptoms

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

The brachialplexus nerve system that extends from the spine to both sides of the neck. It controls movement and Erb's palsy lawyer sensation of the fingers, arm, and hand. If they become damaged, the nerves could cause weakness or partial paralysis in the affected hand and arm.

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

The majority of infants who suffer an injury from a stretch 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 surgical intervention with a nerve graft to fix the damaged nerves. If the nerves damaged don't get repaired and rehabilitated, a child could suffer an indefinite disability that limits their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

There are several treatments for children suffering from Erb's Palsy, but the injury cannot be completely repaired. A few infants suffer from significant disability and are unable move their arm, hand, or fingers.

The symptoms are caused by an injury to the brachial area which is the main muscle of the upper limb except for the trapezius. The injury usually affects the upper trunks of nerves C5 or C6. Infrequently, it can also affect C7. This results in the classical Erb's palsy sign, a waiter's tip type hand that is unable to pronate or bend the forearm. In some cases the nerves that are injured can cause Horner's disease, a drooping of the pupil and a chin that is constricted.

You may be able to claim medical negligence if your child suffers from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is usually caused by excessive force being applied to the baby during birth. This can include using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. It could also involve a doctor not managing shoulder dystocia correctly or deciding to perform vaginal birth or breech in a situation where a caesarean birth would have been more suitable.

Treatment

The brachialplexus's nerves control the movement and feel of the arm and hands. If a baby is diagnosed with Erb's palsy it means the nerves have been injured. 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.

Physical therapy can be used to increase range of motion. This can be achieved in many ways, including stretching exercises and passive exercises. A physiotherapist can also suggest an extension splint specifically designed to assist with movement and help prevent stiffness. In the most severe cases, a nerve graft might be required to rebuild damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation may help a child with an Erb's Palsy injury live their life to the fullest and have access to essential equipment, medical care, and assistance. If you believe your child's illness was caused by an error in medical care at birth, you might be able to file an Erb's Palsy claim for damages in the form of money.

Compensation

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

Settlements from the Erb's Palsy lawsuits will help pay for the costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child and other treatments and equipment needed to help their condition. You may also be able to receive compensation for any lost income or earnings due to the disability of your child.

If your child was diagnosed with erb's palsy and you believe that medical negligence may have played a part in the diagnosis, it is crucial to get in touch with an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer as soon as possible. They can give you guidance on how to proceed and make sure that all paperwork is filed on time. This increases the chances of obtaining compensation. Our team of specialized erb's palsy lawyers can help you claim the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to. This could help offset the long-term costs of your child's disability, and ensure that they have everything they require to live a happy life.