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

Erb's Palsy is caused due to nerve damage in the shoulder, arm and hand. This can lead to paralysis and other issues.

Medical negligence can result in this birth injury. It can be linked to a challenging or rushed delivery particularly when the baby's shoulder gets stuck during labor.

Causes

On rare occasions there are occasions when things occur that go wrong. If your child was born with a disability that was caused by medical negligence, such as erb's palsy attorney palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you seek compensation for the ongoing suffering.

Erb's palsy is a weakness that causes paralysis of various degrees in the arm and shoulder that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to the muscles, allowing them to move. Brachialplexus injuries can cause a loss of ability to move and grasp the hand affected by the injury.

There are many causes of Erb's palsy. It could be caused by shoulder dystocia which is a complication of labour that happens when the baby's head becomes stuck above the pubic bone of the mother's. It is more frequent for women who have risk factors, such as gestational diabetes and babies that are too big or overweight. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency. It is essential for doctors to be aware of this and be aware of the best way to treat it to avoid complications. It can also be caused when you use forceps, vacuum extractors, or have an emergency Cesarean.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of Erb's palsy include a lack of motion in the affected arm or hand and weak grip strength. Usually, the symptoms appear between six and 12 months after the birth.

The brachial plexus is a system of nerves that runs from the spine to both sides of the neck, controlling movement and sensation in the arm, hand and fingers. These nerves, if damaged may cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.

It's often caused by the medical error that occurs during childbirth, like the doctor pulling too hard to free a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It could also be caused by a traumatic birth, especially if the infant is placed in a 'waiter's tippy posture, which causes tension on the C5-C6 nerves of the upper trunk that form part of the brachial plexus.

Most infants who suffer injuries to their limbs or legs will recover in six to 12 months. However, some cases are so severe that they require surgery to repair the damaged nerves. If the damaged nerves are not treated, a child could have permanent disabilities that limit their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

For children with Erb's Palsy there are a variety options to treat the impact, but the injury will never be fully healed. Some infants suffer from a significant disability, and are unable move their arm, hand, or fingers.

The symptoms result from injury to the brachial area which is the main muscle of the upper limb, except for Erb's Palsy the trapezius. The injury is usually to the upper nerves of C5 or C6. However it may also affect C7. This results in the classic sign of Erb's palsy which is a type of waiter's hand that cannot pronate, or flex the forearm. In certain cases, damaged nerves can also cause Horner syndrome. It is manifested by pupils that are drooping as well as a tightened face.

It is possible to make a claim for medical negligence at the time of a birth that leads to a child suffering from Erb's Palsy. This is due to the fact that this condition is often caused by excessive force exerted on the baby during the delivery process. This can include using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. It could also involve a doctor not managing shoulder dystocia properly or deciding to perform vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean section earlier would be more appropriate.

Treatment

The nerves that comprise the brachial system control movement and feeling in the arm and hand. When a baby is diagnosed as having Erb's Palsy, it means that nerves are injured. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months, but some suffer from a permanent disability that affects movement and sensation in their arm.

Physical therapy is utilized to increase range of motion. Passive exercises and stretching can be used to accomplish this. A physiotherapist could also recommend an extension splint that will aid in movement and reduce stiffness. In the most severe cases, a graft of nerves might be required to rebuild damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation may aid a child suffering from an Erb's Palsy injury live their life to the fullest and access essential equipment, care, education and assistance. If you suspect that your child's condition was the result of an error in medical care at birth, you might be able to claim an Erb's Palsy claim for financial damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit can grant families financial compensation that will help pay for Erb's Palsy their child's treatment. It may also give them an appreciation for justice and draw attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial plexus injury.

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements can help cover the cost of physiotherapy for your child and other treatments and equipment needed to treat their condition. You may also be compensated for any loss of income or earnings due to the disability of your child.

If your child has been diagnosed with erb's palsy and you suspect medical negligence may have played a part it is essential to reach out to an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer immediately. They can guide you on the best approach to take and ensure that all required paperwork is filed prior to when any deadlines run out. This will give you the highest chance of success in securing compensation. Our team of expert erb's palsy lawyers can help you obtain the maximum amount of compensation you're entitled to. This can help with the long-term costs associated with your child's disabilities and ensure that they have everything they require to lead a fulfilling, healthy life.