Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an erb's palsy lawsuits Palsy Claim

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

The birth injury could be the result of medical negligence. It often links to an uneasy or rushed birth in particular when the baby's shoulders become stuck during labor.

Causes

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

Erb's palsy can be described as a weakness or paralysis of various degrees in the shoulder and arm and affecting the brachial nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to the muscles, allowing them to move. Abrasions to the brachialplexus can result in the inability to move and grip the hand affected.

Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of causes. Erb's palsy 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 in women with certain risk factors such as gestational diabetes, babies that are too big or overweight. Shoulder dystocia is an emergency medical situation. It is essential for doctors to recognize this and be aware of the best way to treat it to avoid complications. It can also occur if you use forceps, vacuum extractors or have an emergency Cesarean.

Signs and symptoms

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

The brachialplexus is a network of nerves which runs from the spine to both sides of the neck. It controls movements and sensations of the fingers, arms and hand. If damaged, these nerves could cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.

It is often caused by medical errors that occur during childbirth. For instance, a doctor 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 delivery which places strain on the C5-C6 nerve system, which is part of the Brachial plexus.

Most infants who suffer from a stretch injury recover within six to 12 months and are usually able to return home within six months, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention with a nerve graft in order to fix the damaged nerves. If the nerves affected do not get repaired, a child could have permanent disabilities that limit their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

There are many treatments for children suffering from Erb's Palsy however, the damage cannot be completely repaired. Some infants are left with significant impairment and are unable to move their arms, hands or fingers.

The symptoms result from injury to the brachial nerve plexus that connects all the muscles of the upper limb, with the exception for the trapezius. The injury usually affects the upper trunks of nerves C5 and C6. However is it also affecting C7. This results in the classic Erb's palsy sign which is a waiter's tips type hand that is unable pronate or extend the forearm. In some cases, the nerves that are injured can cause Horner's disease, a pupils that are drooping, and a constricted chin.

You can sue for medical negligence in the event that your child suffers from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is usually caused by the excessive force that is imposed on the baby during the delivery process. This could include using forceps or a ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. This can include a doctor who is unable to control shoulder dystocia correctly, or decides to do vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean delivery would have been more suitable.

Treatment

The nerves that form the brachial plexus control movement and feeling in the hand and arm. If a baby is diagnosed as having the condition Erb's - it indicates that the nerves have been injured. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, however there are some who suffer from a permanent impairment that affects movement and sensation in their arm.

The treatment is centered around physical therapy that aims to improve the range of motion of the injured arm. Stretching and passive exercises can be utilized to achieve this. A physiotherapist could also recommend an extension splint, which can help with movement and prevent stiffness. In the most severe cases, a nerve graft could be required to repair 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 support. If you suspect that your child's illness was caused by an unintentional medical error during their birth, you could be able to claim an Erb's Palsy claim for damages in the form of money.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit could give families financial compensation to treat their child. It could also give them an awareness of justice and make medical professionals aware of who might have prevented a brachial nerve injury.

Settlements from the Erb's Palsy lawsuits can help cover the costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child in addition to other equipment and treatments to treat their condition. You could also receive compensation for any lost income or earnings due to the impairment of your child.

It is recommended to contact an Erb's Paralysis lawyer as soon as you suspect that medical negligence may have been involved. They can guide you on the best approach to take and make sure that all the necessary paperwork is filed before any deadlines end. This will give you the greatest chance of success in securing compensation. Our team of experts in erb's-palsy can help you get the most compensation to which you are entitled. This can help with the long-term expenses of your child's disabilities and ensure that they are provided with everything they need to live a fulfilling life.