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 arm, shoulder and hand. It can lead to paralysis and other problems.
Medical negligence can lead to this birth injury. This birth injury is usually caused by a difficult or rushed birth.
Causes
In rare instances things can occur that go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors can help should your child suffer from a disability caused by medical negligence like Erb’s palsy.
Erb’s palsy can be described as a weakness or paralysis of varying degrees in the shoulder and arm, affecting the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to the muscles, allowing them to move. Damage to the brachial tract can cause an inability to grip and move the affected hand.
There are many causes of Erb’s palsy. It can be caused by shoulder dystocia as a result of labour that happens when the baby’s head is stuck above the mother’s pubic bone. It is more frequent in certain risk factors like gestational diabetes, and an infant or child who is large. Shoulder dystocia is an emergency medical condition. It is essential for doctors to be aware of this and know what to do to avoid complications. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or the use of a vacuum extractor during labor or through an emergency Cesarean section.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of Erb’s palsy include a lack of motion in the affected arm or hand and a weak grip. Typically, symptoms manifest within 6 to 12 months after birth.
The brachialplexus is a set of nerves which run from the spine down both sides of the neck, regulating sensation and movement in the hand, arm and fingers. When these nerves are damaged, they may cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.
It’s typically caused by the medical error that occurs during childbirth, such as a doctor pulling too hard to release a baby’s head (shoulder dystocia). It can also happen when the baby is placed in the ‘waiter’ position during birth, which puts strain on the C5-C6 upper trunk nerve system, which is part of the Brachial Plexus.
The majority of infants who suffer from an injury from a stretch will recover in six to 12 months. However some cases are so severe that they require surgery to repair the nerves damaged. If the nerves damaged are not treated, children may suffer from an ongoing disability that impacts their ability to move and use their arm.
Diagnosis
For children suffering from Erb’s Palsy there are a number of treatments to lessen the effects, but the damage can never be fully repaired. Certain infants suffer from a significant disability and are unable to move their arm, hand or fingers.
The injury to the brachial plexus, which innervates the upper limb muscles except the trapezius, causes symptoms. The injury usually affects the upper trunks of nerves C5 and C6. It is less often, however is it also affecting C7. This is the reason for lawsuits the erb’s palsy attorney Palsy sign, a waiter tip-like hand which is unable to pronate nor flex the forearm. In a few cases, injured nerves can also cause Horner’s Syndrome, a pupil that droops and a constricted chin.
You can sue for medical negligence if your child suffers from Erb’s Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is often caused by excessive force exerted on the baby during the birth process. This includes using the vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps improperly. This could be a result of a doctor who isn’t able to control shoulder dystocia correctly, or decides to give birth via an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean birth would have been more suitable.
Treatment
The brachialplexus’s nerves control the movement and feel of the hands and arms. If an infant is diagnosed with Erb’s spalsy, this means the nerves have been damaged. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months, however some suffer from a permanent disability that limits movement and sensation in their arm.
Treatment is focused on physical therapy that seeks to increase the range of motion in the injured arm. This can be accomplished in various ways, including stretching exercises that are passive and. A physiotherapist can also suggest a specialist extension splint to help with flexibility and prevent stiffness. Surgical intervention may be required in extreme cases to repair damaged nerves using an graft of nerves.
A claim for compensation could help a child with an Erb’s Palsy injury live their life to the fullest, and access essential equipment, treatment, and lawsuits assistance. If you believe that your child’s condition was caused by a medical mistake during their birth, you could be able to submit an Erb’s Palsy claim for monetary damages.
Compensation
A successful lawsuit may award families financial compensation to help pay for the treatment of their child. It can also help them feel satisfaction and make medical professionals aware of who could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.
Settlements for lawsuits involving Erb’s palsy can pay for physiotherapy and any other treatments or equipment needed to help your child’s condition. They can also compensate you for any loss of income or earnings because of your child’s disability.
You should contact an Erb’s palsy lawyer as soon as you suspect that medical negligence may have been involved. They can guide you on the most effective way to proceed and ensure all necessary paperwork is filed prior to when any deadlines run out. This will ensure you have the best chances of securing compensation. Our team of specialist Erb’s palsy lawyers will help you claim the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This can help with the long-term costs associated with your child’s disability and ensure that they have everything they require to lead a fulfilling, healthy life.