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

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

Medical negligence can cause this birth injury. It can be linked to a challenging or rushed delivery, especially when the baby's shoulders get stuck during labour.

Causes

In rare cases things can be a mess. Hudgell Solicitors will help you if your child has an impairment that was caused by medical malpractice such as Erb's palsy.

Erb's palsy can be described as a weakness or paralysis of various degrees in the arm and shoulder affected by the brachial nerves. These nerves are responsible for transmitting electrical messages to the muscles so that they can move. Damage to the brachial tract can cause an inability to grip and move the hand in the affected area.

There are many reasons for Erb's palsy. Erb's syndrome can be caused by shoulder dystocia, which is a complication that occurs when the baby's skull becomes stuck over the mother's pubic bone. It is more frequent in women who have certain risk factors such as gestational diabetics and infants who are large. Shoulder dystocia is an emergency medical condition. It is vital for doctors to recognize this and be aware of the best way to treat it to prevent complications. It could also occur if you use forceps, vacuum extractors or emergency Cesarean.

Symptoms

Erb's Palsy is characterized by a lack in movement of the arm or hand Erb's palsy lawsuits affected, as well as a weak grip. Symptoms typically appear within six to twelve months of birth.

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

It is usually caused by birth-related medical errors. For instance a doctor pressing on the baby's shoulder to hard (shoulder dystocia). It can result from a traumatizing birth, especially if the infant is placed in a 'waiter's tip posture, which causes tension on the C5-C6 nerves in the upper trunk which form part of the brachial nerve.

Most infants who suffer from a stretch injury recover within six to twelve months however, there are some cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention by using a nerve graft repair the nerves that have been injured. If the nerves damaged don't get repaired then a child could be left with permanent impairment that hinders their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

There are several treatments for children suffering from erb's palsy law firm Palsy, but the injury cannot be fully repaired. Some children are left with a significant impairment and cannot move their arms, hands or fingers.

Symptoms are caused by injury to the brachial plexus which innervates all the muscles of the upper limb except for the trapezius. The most common injury is to the upper nerves of C5 or C6. It is less often, however it may also affect C7. This can cause the Erb's-Palsy sign, a waiter tip-like hand which is unable to pronate or stretch the forearm. In some cases, the nerves are damaged and can result in Horner syndrome. The symptoms include pupils that are drooping as well as a constricted face.

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 often caused by the excessive force that is imposed on the baby during the birth process. This could include using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. This could be a result of a doctor who is unable to manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to give birth via an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean birth would have been more suitable.

Treatment

The nerves of the brachial nerve control movement and feel in the hand and arm. If a baby is identified as having the condition Erb's - it means that the nerves are injured. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months, but some have a permanent disability which affects their movement and the sensation in their arm.

The treatment is centered around physical therapy which aims to increase the range of motion in the injured arm. Stretching and exercises for passive exercise are a great way to achieve this. A physiotherapist might also suggest an extension splint specifically designed to aid in flexibility and prevent stiffness. In the case of severe instances, a nerve graft might be required to rebuild damaged nerves.

A compensation claim can aid a child with Erb's Palsy live life to the maximum, and gain access to the essential equipment as well as education and medical. If you think your child's Erb's Palsy was caused by an error in medical care during their birth, then you might be able make a claim for monetary damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit may award families financial compensation that will help fund their child's medical treatment. It may also give them the feeling of justice and draw attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.

Settlements from the Erb's Palsy lawsuits can be used to pay for the costs of physiotherapy for your child, as well as other equipment and treatments to aid their condition. They also offer compensation for any loss of income or earnings due to the disability of your child.

You should contact an Erb's palsy lawyer immediately if you suspect that medical negligence was the cause. They will be able to provide guidance on how to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed in time. This increases the chances of obtaining compensation. Our team of specialist erb's palsy lawyers can help you get the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This can help with the long-term costs of your child's disability and ensure that they are provided with everything they need to lead a fulfilled life.