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

Erb's palsy is an injury to the network of nerves in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can lead to paralysis and other problems.

This birth injury can be caused by medical negligence. This birth injury is typically due to a challenging or rushed birth.

Causes

Pregnancies and births generally go well however on the rare occasion something goes wrong. If your child was born with a disability caused by medical negligence, like Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you seek compensation for the ongoing suffering.

Erb's palsy is a weakness or paralysis that is varying in the shoulder and arm and affecting the brachial nerves. These nerves are responsible for transmitting electrical signals to muscles to allow them to move. The brachialplexus is abrasion that can cause a loss of ability to move and grip the hand affected.

Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of factors. Erb's syndrome can be caused by shoulder dystocia, which is a condition that occurs when the baby's skull is stuck over the mother's pubic bone. It is more prevalent for women who have risk factors like gestational diabetes, babies that are too big or overweight. Shoulder dystocia is an emergency medical situation. It is important for doctors to recognize this and know what to do to avoid complications. It can also be caused by forceps, vacuum extractors, or have an emergency Cesarean.

Signs and symptoms

erb's palsy lawyer Palsy is characterised by a lack in movement of the arm or Erb's Palsy Lawyer hand affected, as well as an inability to grip. Typically, the symptoms begin to manifest in the six to 12 months following birth.

The brachialplexus is a nerve network that connects the spine to both sides of the neck. It regulates motion and sensation of the fingers, arms, and hand. When these nerves are damaged, they may cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.

It is often the result of medical mistakes during childbirth. For example the doctor pushing on the baby's shoulder too much (shoulder dystocia). It could result from a violent birth, especially if the infant is held in a 'waiter's tippy' position, which causes tension on the upper trunk C5-C6 nerves that form part of the brachial nerve.

The majority of infants who suffer from injuries to their limbs or legs 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 that are damaged do not get repaired, a child could have permanent disabilities that limit their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

For children suffering from Erb's Palsy there are a number of treatments to lessen the effects, but the damage will never be fully healed. Some infants have a significant disability and are unable to move their arm, hand or fingers.

The symptoms result from injury to the brachial plexus which is the main muscle of the upper limb, except for the trapezius. The injury is usually affecting the upper nerves C5 and C6 and less frequently affects C7. The result is the classic Erb's-Palsy sign, a waiter tip-like hand that is unable to pronate nor stretch the forearm. In a few cases, nerves that are injured can cause Horner's disease, a pupil that is drooping and a constricted chin.

It is possible to make a claim for medical negligence during a birth that leads to a child suffering with Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition is typically caused when excessive force is applied to the baby during delivery. This can be caused by using forceps or a ventouse (vacuum extraction) in a way that is not correct. This can include a doctor who isn't able to manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to have vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean delivery would have been more suitable.

Treatment

The brachialplexus' nerves control sensation and movement in the hands and arms. If a baby is diagnosed as having Erb's palsy, it means that nerves are injured. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, but some have a permanent disability that restricts movement and feeling in their arm.

Treatment is focused on physical therapy which aims to improve the range of motion in the injured arm. Stretching and exercises for passive exercise can be used to accomplish this. A physiotherapist might also suggest an extension splint which will assist in movement and help prevent stiffness. In the most severe cases, a nerve transplant could be needed to rebuild damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation could assist a child suffering an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest extent and access essential equipment, care, education and assistance. If you believe that your child's Erb's Palsy was the result of an error in medical treatment during their birth, then you may be able to make a claim for monetary damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit may award families financial compensation that will help pay for their child's treatment. It can also give them a sense justice and bring attention to medical professionals that could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.

Settlements for Erb's-Palsy lawsuits can cover the cost of physiotherapy, as well as any other treatments or equipment required to treat your child's disability. You could also receive compensation 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 in the diagnosis, it is crucial to get in touch with an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer whenever you can. They can offer guidance on how to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed on time. This increases your chances of receiving compensation. Our team of specialist erb's palsy lawyers can help you obtain the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This will help pay for the long-term cost of your child's disability, and ensure that they have everything they need to live a full and happy life.