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

Erb's palsy can cause damage to the nerve system in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can cause paralysis and other problems.

Medical negligence can lead to this birth injury. The birth injury is usually due to a challenging or rushed birth.

Causes

Pregnancies and births usually go well however, on the rare occasion things can 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 condition of varying degrees or paralysis of the shoulder and arms, which affects the brachial nerves. These nerves are responsible for transmitting electrical messages to the muscles to allow them move. Injuries to the brachial nerve could result in a loss of ability to grip and move the hand affected.

There are many causes of Erb's palsy. Erb's syndrome can be caused by shoulder dystocia, which is a condition that occurs when the baby's head gets stuck above the mother’s pubic bone. It is more frequent for women who have risk factors like gestational diabetics and babies that are too big or overweight. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is crucial that doctors recognise this and are able to respond quickly to prevent complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or the use of a vacuum extractor during labor or through an emergency Cesarean section.

Signs and symptoms

Erb's symptoms are a lack of movement in the affected hand or arm and a weak grip. The symptoms usually manifest 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 damaged, these nerves could cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.

It's usually caused by an error made by a doctor during childbirth, such as an unintentional pull by a doctor to free the baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It can also occur when the baby is placed in the 'waiter' position during birth that puts stress on the C5-C6 nerve system, which forms part of the Brachial Plexus.

Most infants who suffer a stretch injury will recover within six to 12 months. However there are cases that are so severe that they require surgery to repair the damaged nerves. If the nerves that are damaged are not repaired, a child could have permanent impairment that hinders their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

There are many treatments for Erb's palsy lawsuit children with Erb’s Palsy however, the damage cannot be completely repaired. Certain infants suffer from a significant disability, and are unable to move their arm, hand or fingers.

The symptoms result from injury to the brachial plexus which innervates all the muscles of the upper limb, except for the trapezius. The injury is usually affecting the upper nerves C5 as well as C6 but less often affects C7. This results in the classical sign of Erb's palsy which is a waiter's tips type hand which cannot pronate or bend the forearm. In a few cases, nerves damaged may also result in Horner syndrome. The symptoms include the pupil drooping and a constricted face.

It is possible to bring an action for medical negligence in a birth that leads to the child being diagnosed with Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition is often caused by excessive force being imposed on the baby during the birth process. This could be due to using vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps that are not used correctly. This could include a doctor who is unable to manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to perform vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean birth would be more appropriate.

Treatment

The brachialplexus' nerves regulate movement and sensation in the hands and arm. If a baby is diagnosed as having farmington erb's palsy attorney Palsy, it indicates that the nerves are damaged. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, but some have a long-term disability which affects their movement and the sensation in their arm.

Physical therapy is used to improve the range of motion. Stretching and exercises for passive exercise can be used to accomplish this. A physiotherapist might also suggest an extension splint that is specifically designed to assist with flexibility and prevent stiffness. Surgery is sometimes necessary in the most severe cases to reconstruct damaged nerves through a nerve graft.

A claim for compensation can help a child suffering from an Erb's Palsy injury live their life to the fullest, and access essential equipment, education, and support. If you believe that your child's condition was the result of a medical mistake during their birth, you could be eligible to claim an Erb's Palsy claim for financial damages.

Compensation

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

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements can assist in covering the cost of physiotherapy for your child in addition to other equipment and treatments to treat their condition. They also can compensate you for any loss of income or earnings because of your child's disability.

It is recommended to contact an Erb's Palsy lawyer as soon as you suspect that medical negligence was involved. They can advise you on the best method to proceed and make sure that all the necessary documents are filed before any deadlines expire. This increases the chances of receiving compensation. Our team of specialist Erb's palsy lawyers will help you claim the maximum amount of compensation you are 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.