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

Erb's Palsy is a result of an injury to the nerve system in the shoulder, arm and hand. This can cause paralysis and other problems.

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

Causes

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

Erb's palsy is a condition that causes weakness or paralysis that is varying in the arm and shoulder that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to muscles, allowing them to move. Injuries to the brachial nerve could result in a loss of ability to grip and move the hand in the affected area.

There are many causes of Erb's palsy. It can be caused by shoulder dystocia as a result of labour that occurs when the baby's head gets stuck above the mother's pubic bone. It can happen more frequently with certain risk factors such as gestational diabetes or a large infant or baby. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency, and it is imperative that doctors recognize this and know how to react quickly to avoid complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or the use of a vacuum extractor during labor or during an emergency Cesarean section.

Signs and symptoms

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

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

It's usually the result of an error made by a doctor during childbirth, like doctors pulling too hard to free a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It can also occur when the baby is placed in the 'waiter tip' position during the delivery, which puts strain on the C5-C6 nerve system that is part of the Brachial plexus.

Most infants who suffer an injury to their stretch will recover within six to 12 months. However, some cases are so severe that they require surgery to repair the damaged nerves. If the nerves damaged are not treated, children may suffer from an ongoing disability that impacts their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

For children with Erb's Palsy there are a variety of treatments to reduce the impact, but the injury will never be fully healed. Some children are left with a significant disability and are unable to move their arm, hand or fingers.

The damage to the brachial-plexus which innervates the upper limb muscles, excluding the trapezius, creates symptoms. The injury usually affects the upper nerves C5 & C6 but less often affects C7. This results in the classical sign of Erb's palsy the waiter's tip hand that cannot pronate, or flex the forearm. In certain cases, nerves that are damaged can cause Horner syndrome. It is manifested by a drooping pupil and a tightened face.

It is possible to bring a claim for medical negligence during the birth that causes a child suffering from Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition can be caused when excessive force is applied to the baby during delivery. This could be due to using the vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps used incorrectly. It could also be a doctor not managing shoulder dystocia properly or deciding to do an breech or vaginal birth when a more conventional caesarean delivery would have been more appropriate.

Treatment

The brachialplexus's nerves regulate movement and sensation in the hands and arms. If a baby is identified as having Erb's Palsy, it indicates that the nerves have been injured. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, but some have a permanent disability which affects their movement and the sensation in their arm.

Treatment is focused on physical therapy that aims to increase the range of motion in the injured arm. Stretching and exercises for passive exercise can be utilized to achieve this. A physiotherapist can also suggest a specialist extension splint to aid in movement and help prevent stiffness. In the most severe cases, a nerve graft could be required to repair damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation could assist a child suffering an Erb's Palsy injury live their life to the fullest and have access to essential equipment, medical care, and support. If you believe your child's condition was the result of an error made by a doctor at the time of their birth, you could be able to make an erb's palsy attorneys Palsy claim for financial damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit can award families financial compensation to treat their child. It can also give them an understanding of justice and bring attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial plexus injury.

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements can be used to pay for the costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child as well as other equipment and treatments needed to support their condition. They also offer compensation for any loss of 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 been the reason, it is important to reach out to an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer as soon as possible. They will be able to advise you on the best approach to take and ensure that all required documents are filed before any deadlines run out. This increases the chances of obtaining compensation. Our team of specialist erb's palsy attorney palsy lawyers can help you get the maximum amount of compensation you're entitled to. This can help with the long-term costs associated with your child's disabilities and make sure that they have everything they need to lead a happy, healthy life.