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

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

Medical negligence can cause this birth injury. It is often linked to the birth process being rushed or difficult, especially when the baby's shoulders get stuck during labour.

Causes

In rare instances it is possible for things to be a mess. If your child was born with a disability caused by medical negligence, like erb's palsy lawsuit palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you obtain compensation for their ongoing suffering.

Erb's'Palsy' is a weakness with varying degrees of paralysis in the shoulder or arms that affects the brachial nerves. These nerves transmit electrical signals to the muscles, allowing them to move. Brachialplexus injuries can cause a decline in the ability to move and grip the hand affected.

Erb's Palsy can be caused by a range of causes. It is often caused by shoulder dystocia as a result of labour that happens when the baby's head becomes stuck above the pubic bone of the mother's. This can be more common with certain risk factors including gestational diabetes and the size of a baby or infant. Shoulder dystocia is an emergency medical condition. It is vital for doctors to be aware of this and be aware of the best way to treat it to prevent complications. It could also occur by forceps, vacuum extractors, or an emergency Cesarean.

Symptoms

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

The brachialplexus is an intricate network of nerves that runs from the spine and down both sides of the neck, controlling movements and sensations in the hand, arm and fingers. If they are damaged, these nerves can cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and hand.

It is often caused by medical errors that occur during childbirth. For example doctors pulling on the baby's shoulder too hard (shoulder dystocia). It can also be caused when the baby is placed in the 'waiter' position during the delivery that puts stress on the upper-trunk C5-C6 nervous system that is part of the Brachial plexus.

Most infants who suffer injuries to their limbs or legs will recover within six to 12 months. However some cases are so severe that they require surgical intervention to repair the nerves damaged. If the nerves damaged don't get repaired, a child could have permanent impairment that hinders their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

For children who suffer from Erb's Palsy there are a variety of treatments that can reduce the impact, but the injury can never be fully repaired. Some infants suffer from a significant disability, and are unable to move their arm, hand or fingers.

The symptoms are caused by an injury to the brachial plexus which provides all the muscles of the upper limb, with the exception for the trapezius. The injury is usually to the upper nerves of C5 or C6. Less frequently is it possible to affect C7. This causes the classic sign of Erb's palsy which is a waiter's tips type hand that cannot pronate, or bend the forearm. In a few cases, damaged nerves can also cause Horner syndrome. This is characterized by pupils that are drooping as well as a constricted face.

It is possible to make an action for medical negligence at the time of the birth of the child being diagnosed with erb's palsy attorney Palsy. This is due to the fact that this condition is often caused by excessive force placed on the baby during the delivery process. This can result from using forceps or erb's palsy lawsuits ventouse (vacuum extraction) in a way that is not correct. It can also mean doctors not managing shoulder dystocia appropriately or deciding to give birth via a breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean section earlier would have been more appropriate.

Treatment

The nerves that comprise the brachial plexus control movement and feeling in the arm and hand. If a baby is diagnosed with Erb's Palsy, it means the nerves have been damaged. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months, but some have a permanent disability which affects their movement and the sensation in their arm.

Physical therapy is used to increase range of motion. Passive exercises and stretching are a great way to achieve this. A physiotherapist may also recommend an extension splint that will aid in movement and avoid stiffness. In the most severe cases, a graft of nerves may be needed to reconstruct damaged nerves.

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

Compensation

A successful lawsuit could be able to award families financial compensation in exchange to treat their child. It can also bring them a sense of justice and bring attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial plexus injury.

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

It is recommended to contact an Erb's Paralysis lawyer as soon as you suspect that medical negligence was the cause. They will be able to advise you on the best method to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed prior to when any deadlines end. This increases your chances of obtaining compensation. Our team of specialized lawyers for erb's palsy can help you claim the highest amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This can help you with the long-term costs associated with your child's disabilities and make sure that they have everything they require to live a full, happy and healthy life.