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

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

Medical negligence can cause this birth injury. This birth injury is usually related to a difficult or rushed birth.

Causes

In rare cases there are occasions when things occur that go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors can assist you should your child suffer from an impairment that was caused by medical negligence, such as Erb’s palsy.

Erb's Palsy is a condition 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. Injury to the brachial plexus can result in an inability to grip and move the hand in the affected area.

There are a number of causes of Erb's syndrome. Erb's Palsy can be caused by shoulder Dystocia, which is a condition that occurs when the baby's skull gets stuck over the mother's pubic bone. It is more common for women who have risk factors such as gestational diabetics, as well as infants who are large. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is essential that doctors recognise this and understand how to respond quickly to prevent complications for the baby. It can also occur if you use forceps, vacuum extractors or have an emergency Cesarean.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Erb's palsy include a lack in movement in the affected arm or hand and a weak grip. The symptoms usually manifest between six and twelve months after birth.

The brachialplexus is a set of nerves that runs from the spine to both sides of the neck, managing motion and sensation in the arm, hand and fingers. If damaged, these nerves could cause weakness or partial paralysis in the affected hand and arm.

It is often the result of medical mistakes during childbirth. For example doctors pulling on the baby's shoulder too hard (shoulder dystocia). It can also happen when the baby is placed in the 'waiter tip' position during delivery that puts stress on the C5-C6 nerve system that forms part of the Brachial plexus.

Most infants who suffer injuries to their limbs or legs will recover in six to 12 months. However certain cases are so severe that they require surgical intervention to repair the nerves damaged. If the nerves damaged are not repaired, then children may suffer from an indefinite disability that affects their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

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

The injury to the brachial-plexus which innervates the upper leg muscles, excluding the trapezius, causes symptoms. The injury usually affects the upper trunk of nerves C5 and C6 but less often 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 some cases the nerves that are injured can cause Horner's syndrome, a drooping of the pupil and a chin that is constricted.

It is possible to bring an action for medical negligence in the birth of an infant suffering from Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition is often caused by excessive force applied to the baby during birth. This could be due to using a vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps used incorrectly. This could include a doctor who is unable to manage shoulder dystocia properly, or decides to perform a vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean birth would have been more suitable.

Treatment

The brachialplexus nerves control movement and sensation in the hands and arm. When a baby is diagnosed as having Erb's Palsy, it indicates that the nerves have been injured. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months but some suffer from an indefinite disability that limits movement and feeling in their arm.

Physical therapy is used to increase range of motion. Stretching and passive exercises can be used to accomplish this. A physiotherapist can also suggest an extension splint, which can help with movement and prevent stiffness. In the most severe instances, a nerve graft may be needed to reconstruct damaged nerves.

A compensation claim can aid a child with Erb's Palsy live life to the fullest and gain access to essential equipment education, medical care, and other. If you believe your child's Palsy was caused by an error in medical care at the time of their birth, you could be able to make a claim for monetary damages.

Compensation

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

Settlements for Erb's lawsuit for palsy can assist in covering the cost of physiotherapy for your child in addition to other treatments and equipment needed to aid their condition. You may also be able to receive compensation for any loss of income or earnings due to the disability of your child.

You should seek out an Erb's Palsy lawyer right away if you suspect that medical negligence was involved. They can advise you on the best way to move forward and ensure that all paperwork is filed before deadlines end. This increases the chances of getting compensation. Our team of specialized erb's palsy lawyers (xilubbs.xclub.tw) can help you obtain the maximum amount of compensation you're entitled to. This will help pay for the long-term costs of your child's disability, and ensure they have everything they need to live a happy life.