Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an Erb's Palsy Claim
Erb's Palsy is caused by damage to the nerve network in the shoulder, arm and hand. This can cause paralysis, as well as other problems.
The birth injury could be the result of medical negligence. It often links to the birth process being rushed or difficult, especially when the baby's shoulders become stuck during labour.
Causes
In rare circumstances it is possible for things to occur that go 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 causes paralysis in varying degrees within the arm and shoulder, affecting the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves transmit electrical signals to muscles to allow them to move. Injuries to the brachialplexus could result in the inability to move and grasp the hand affected by the injury.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of factors. It could be caused by shoulder dystocia, a complication of labour that happens when the baby's head is stuck above the pubic bone of the mother's. It can happen more frequently when there are certain risk factors, like gestational diabetes, and the size of a baby or infant. Shoulder dystocia could be an emergency medical condition. It is important for doctors to recognize this and know what to do to avoid complications. It can also occur by forceps, vacuum extractors, or an emergency Cesarean.
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Erb's Palsy is characterised by a lack of movement of the arm or hand affected and a weak grip. Typically, the symptoms show within 6 to 12 months after birth.
The brachialplexus is the name of a nerve system that connects the spine to both sides of the neck. It regulates motion and sensation of the arm, fingers and hand. If they are damaged, these nerves can cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected hand and arm.
It's usually the result of an error in medical care during childbirth, for example a doctor pulling too hard to free a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It can also be caused when the baby is placed in the 'waiter' position during the delivery that puts stress on the upper trunk C5-C6 nervous system, which is part of the Brachial Plexus.
The majority of infants who suffer from a stretch injury 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 affected aren't repaired, children may suffer from permanent impairment that limits their ability to move and use their arm.
Diagnosis
For children with Erb's Palsy there are a number options to treat the impact, but the injury can never be fully repaired. Some children are left with a significant impairment and are unable to move their arm, hand or fingers.
The injury to the brachial plexus, which innervates the upper leg muscles, with the exception of the trapezius can cause symptoms. The injury usually affects the upper nerves C5 and C6. It is less likely to affect C7. This results in the classical Erb's palsy sign which is a waiter's tips type hand that is unable pronate or flex the forearm. In some cases the injured nerves can also cause Horner's disease, a pupil that droops and a constricted chin.
You can file a claim for medical negligence if your child suffers from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is typically caused when excessive force is applied to the baby during delivery. This can be caused by using the vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps used incorrectly. It could also involve a doctor not managing shoulder dystocia appropriately or deciding to do vaginal birth or breech when a more conventional caesarean delivery would be more appropriate.
Treatment
The nerves that comprise the brachial system control movement and feel in the arm and hand. If you find a baby with Erb's spalsy, this means the nerves have been injured. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months however some suffer from a permanent disability affecting movement and feeling in their arm.
Physical therapy is a method to improve the range of motion. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways including stretching exercises and passive exercises. A physiotherapist can also suggest an extension splint that will assist in movement and help prevent stiffness. In extreme cases, a nerve graft may be needed to reconstruct damaged nerves.
A claim for compensation may help a child with an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest and have access to essential equipment, treatment, and support. If you believe that your child's Erb's Palsy was the result of an error in medical treatment during 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 help them feel a sense of justice and make medical professionals aware of who might have prevented a brachial plexus injury.
Settlements for Erb's lawsuit for palsy can be used to pay for the cost of physiotherapy for your child in addition to other treatments and equipment required to aid their condition. You may also be able to receive compensation for any loss of income or earnings due to the impairment of your child.
You should contact an Erb's Palsy lawyer right away if you suspect that medical negligence was involved. They can guide you on the best approach to take and ensure all necessary paperwork is filed before deadlines run out. This increases your chances of getting compensation. Our team of specialist lawyers for erb's palsy can help you obtain the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This can help with the long-term costs associated with your child's disabilities and ensure that they have everything they require to lead a fulfilling, healthy life.