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

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

Medical negligence can result in this birth injury. It often links to the birth process being rushed or difficult, especially when the baby's shoulder gets stuck during labor.

Causes

Pregnancies and births usually are normal, however on the rare occasion something could go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors can help should your child suffer from an impairment that was caused by medical negligence like Erb's palsy.

Erb's palsy is a weakness that causes paralysis in varying degrees within the arm and shoulder that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves are responsible for erb's palsy lawyers transmitting electrical signals to muscles to allow them to move. Abrasions to the brachialplexus can cause a decline in the ability to move and grip the hand that is affected.

There are several reasons for Erb's palsy. Erb's Palsy can be caused by shoulder Dystocia, which is a complication that occurs when the baby's skull becomes stuck above the mother’s pubic bone. It can happen more frequently in certain risk factors like gestational diabetes, and a large infant or baby. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is imperative that doctors recognize this and Erb's Palsy lawyers know how to respond swiftly to avoid complications for the baby. It can also be caused by forceps, vacuum extractors or emergency Cesarean.

Symptoms

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

The brachialplexus is a set of nerves that extend from the spine down both sides of the neck. They control movements and sensations in the hand, arm and fingers. If they are damaged, these nerves can lead to weakness or partial paralysis in the affected arm and hand.

It is often the result of medical errors that occur during childbirth. For example doctors pulling on the baby's shoulder to hard (shoulder dystocia). It can also occur when the baby is placed in the 'waiter' tip position during delivery, which puts strain on the upper-trunk C5-C6 nervous system, which is part of the Brachial Plexus.

The majority of infants who suffer from an injury to their stretch will recover in six to 12 months. However some cases are so severe that they require surgical intervention to repair the damaged nerves. If the nerves that are damaged are not repaired, a child may have an indefinite disability that affects 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. A few infants suffer from significant disability, and are unable move their hand, arm or fingers.

The injury to the brachial plexus, which innervates the upper limb muscles, except for the trapezius creates symptoms. The injury typically affects the upper nerves C5 & C6 and less frequently affects C7. This results in the classic Erb's palsy sign the waiter's tip hand that is unable to pronate or bend the forearm. In a few cases, injured nerves also cause Horner's disease, a pupils that are drooping, and a constricted chin.

It is possible to make a claim for medical negligence at the time of the birth that causes an infant suffering from Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition is usually caused by excessive force being applied to the baby during birth. This can result from using forceps or a ventouse (vacuum extraction) in a way that is not correct. This could be a result of a doctor who does not manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to do an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean delivery would have been more suitable.

Treatment

The brachialplexus nerves regulate movement and sensation in the arm and hands. If a baby's diagnosis is as having the condition Erb's - it means that the nerves are damaged. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months, however some suffer from a permanent disability which affects their movement and the sensation in their arm.

Physical therapy is a method to increase the range of motion. Stretching and passive exercises can be used to accomplish this. A physiotherapist can also suggest an extension splint specifically designed to ease movements and reduce stiffness. Surgical intervention is often required in cases of extreme severity to reconstruct damaged nerves through an graft of nerves.

A claim for compensation may assist a child suffering an Erb's Palsy injury live their life to the fullest, and access essential equipment, medical care, and support. If you believe that your child's condition is the result of an unintentional medical error at the time of their birth, you may be eligible to submit an Erb's Palsy claim for financial damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit may award families financial compensation to help fund their child's medical treatment. It may also provide them with an awareness of justice and call attention to medical professionals who might have prevented a brachial or plexus injury.

Settlements from the Erb's Palsy lawsuits can be used to pay for the costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child and other equipment and treatments needed to support their condition. They may also reimburse you for any loss of earnings or income caused by your child's disability.

It is recommended to seek out an Erb's Palsy lawyer immediately if you suspect that medical negligence was involved. They can offer suggestions on how you can proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed in time. This will ensure you have the best chance of success in securing compensation. Our team of specialized erb's palsy lawyers can help you claim the highest amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This can help you deal with the long-term costs associated with your child's handicap and ensure that they have everything they need to lead a fulfilling, healthy life.