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

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

Medical negligence can result in this birth injury. It can result in the birth process being rushed or difficult in particular when the baby’s shoulder gets stuck during labour.

Causes

Pregnancies and births usually go smoothly, however, on the rare occasion something goes wrong. If your child was born with a disability caused by medical negligence, for instance Erb’s palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you claim compensation for their ongoing suffering.

Erb’s Palsy is a weakness that can be varying in severity or even paralysis in the shoulder or arms, affecting the brachial nerves. These nerves are responsible for sending electrical messages to the muscles so that they can move. Injury to the brachial plexus can cause an inability to grip and move the hand in the affected area.

Erb’s Palsy can be caused by a variety of factors. Erb’s palsy is often caused by shoulder Dystocia, which is a complication that occurs when the baby’s skull gets stuck over the mother’s pubic bone. It is more prevalent in women with certain risk factors like gestational diabetics, Erb’s Palsy lawyers as well as large babies or infants. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is crucial that doctors are aware of this and be able to respond quickly to prevent complications for the baby. It could also occur by forceps, vacuum extractors, or have an emergency Cesarean.

Symptoms

Erb’s palsy symptoms include a lack of motion in the affected arm or hand and weak grip strength. Typically, symptoms manifest between six and 12 months after birth.

The brachialplexus is a set of nerves that extend from the spine to both sides of the neck. They control movement and sensation in the arm, hand and fingers. When these nerves are damaged, they, can cause weakness or Erb’s Palsy Lawyers partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.

It is often the result of birth-related medical errors. For example the doctor pushing on the baby’s shoulder to hard (shoulder dystocia). It could also occur when the baby is placed in the ‘waiter tip’ position during the delivery that puts stress on the upper-trunk C5-C6 nervous system, which is part of the Brachial Plexus.

Most infants who sustain injuries to their limbs 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 surgery using a nerve graft to repair the injured nerves. If the nerves that are damaged are not treated, the child could suffer a permanent disability affecting their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

For children who suffer from Erb’s Palsy there are a number options to treat the effects but the injury is not able to be completely repaired. Some infants suffer from a significant disability and are unable to move their hand, arm or fingers.

The injury to the brachial-plexus, which innervates the upper leg muscles except the trapezius, can cause symptoms. The injury typically affects the upper nerves C5 as well as C6 but less often affects 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 instances, damaged nerves can also cause Horner syndrome. This is characterized by a drooping pupil and a constricted face.

You may be able to claim medical negligence when your child is suffering from erb’s palsy attorneys Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is usually caused by excessive force applied to the baby during birth. This can include using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. This could include a doctor who does not manage shoulder dystocia properly, or decides to do a vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean birth would be more appropriate.

Treatment

The brachialplexus’s nerves regulate movement and sensation in the hands and arm. If the baby is diagnosed with Erb’s spalsy, this means the nerves have been injured. Most babies recover within six to 12 months. However, some suffer from a permanent disability affecting movement and sensation in their arm.

The treatment is centered around physical therapy which aims to increase the range of motion in the injured arm. Stretching and exercises for passive exercise can be used to accomplish this. A physiotherapist can also suggest an extension splint that is specifically designed to aid in the movement and reduce stiffness. Surgery may be necessary in the most severe cases to repair damaged nerves by the use of a nerve graft.

A compensation claim can help a child who has Erb’s Palsy live life to the fullest, and have access to essential equipment education, care, and equipment. If you believe your child’s Palsy was caused by an error in medical treatment at the time of their birth, you might be able file a claim for financial damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit can award families financial compensation for the treatment they received from their child. It can also give them an appreciation for justice and draw attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial plexus injury.

Settlements in the Erb’s palsy lawsuit can help cover the cost of physiotherapy for your child in addition to other equipment and treatments needed to aid their condition. They may also reimburse you for any loss of earnings or income due to the disability of your child.

It is recommended to seek out an Erb’s Palsy lawyer as soon as you suspect that medical negligence is involved. They can provide you with suggestions on how to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed on time. This will give you the best chance of securing compensation. Our team of specialist Erb’s palsy lawyers will help you obtain the maximum amount of compensation you’re entitled to. This can help with the long-term costs of your child’s disability and ensure that they have everything they need to live a full and happy life.