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

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

This birth injury can be the result of medical negligence. This birth injury is usually due to a challenging or premature delivery.

Causes

In rare cases things can be a mess. If your child was born with a disability that was caused by medical negligence, for instance Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you obtain compensation for their ongoing suffering.

Erb's palsy can be described as a weakness or paralysis of varying degrees in the arm and shoulder that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves transmit electrical signals to muscles to allow them to move. Damage to the brachial tract can cause an inability to grip and move the hand that is affected.

There are a variety of causes of Erb's Palsy. It can be caused by shoulder dystocia an complication of labour that happens when the baby's head is stuck above the mother's pubic bone. This can be more common with certain risk factors, such as gestational diabetes and a large infant or baby. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is important that doctors recognise this and be able to respond quickly to prevent complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or the use of a vacuum extractor during labor or even by having an emergency Cesarean section.

Symptoms

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

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that extend from the spine along both sides of the neck, controlling motion and sensation in the arm, hand and fingers. If they become damaged, the nerves could cause weakness or partial paralysis in the affected hand and arm.

It is often the result of medical errors 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' position during birth, which puts strain on the upper-trunk C5-C6 nervous system that is part of the Brachial Plexus.

Most infants who suffer from injuries to their limbs recover within six to twelve months in most cases, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention with a nerve graft to repair the nerves that have been injured. If the nerves that are damaged are not treated the child may suffer a permanent disability that affects their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

For children suffering from Erb's Palsy there are a variety options to treat the impact, but the injury cannot be completely repaired. Certain infants suffer from a significant disability, and are unable move their hand, arm or fingers.

The symptoms result from injury to the brachial plexus which innervates all the muscles of the upper limb, except for the trapezius. The injury usually affects the upper nerves C5 and C6 and less frequently affects C7. This results in the classical Erb's syndrome which is a waiter's tips type hand that is unable to pronate or stretch the forearm. In some instances, injured nerves also cause Horner's syndrome, a pupil that droops and a constricted chin.

You may be able to claim medical negligence when your child is suffering from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is often caused by excessive force being imposed on the baby during the delivery process. This can include using forceps or a ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. This could be a result of a doctor who isn't able to control shoulder dystocia correctly, or decides to have the vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean birth would be more appropriate.

Treatment

The brachialplexus nerves control the movement and feel of the hands and arms. When a baby is diagnosed as having the condition Erb's - it means that nerves are injured. Most babies recover within 6 to 12 months however some suffer from an indefinite disability that limits the movement and sensation of their arm.

Treatment is focused on physical therapy that seeks to increase the range of motion in the injured arm. Stretching and passive exercises are a great way to achieve this. A physiotherapist can also recommend an extension splint that is specifically designed to ease movements and reduce stiffness. Surgical intervention may be necessary in the most severe cases to repair damaged nerves with an graft of nerves.

A compensation claim can help a child suffering from erb's palsy attorney Palsy live life to its fullest, and have access to essential equipment as well as education and medical. If you believe that your child's illness was caused by an error in medical care during their birth, you might be able to claim an Erb's Palsy claim for damages in the form of money.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit may award families financial compensation to fund their child's medical treatment. It could also provide them with a an understanding of justice and bring attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.

Settlements from the erb's palsy lawsuits (clearcreek.a2hosted.com) can assist in covering the costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child, as well as other treatments and equipment needed to support their condition. You may also be compensated for any loss of income or earnings due to the disability of your child.

You should contact an Erb's Paralysis lawyer immediately if you suspect that medical negligence was the cause. They will be able to advise you on the most effective way to proceed and make sure that all the necessary documents are filed before any deadlines end. This will give you the greatest chance of success in securing compensation. Our team of erb's palsy specialists can assist you in obtaining the most compensation to which you are entitled. This can help with the long-term costs associated with your child's handicap and ensure that they have everything they need to live a full, happy and healthy life.