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

Erb's Palsy is a result of damage to the nerve system in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can lead to paralysis and other issues.

The birth injury could be the result of medical negligence. This birth injury is usually due to a challenging or rushed birth.

Causes

In rare circumstances, things can occur that go wrong. If your child was born with a disability that was caused by medical negligence, like Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you seek compensation for their ongoing suffering.

Erb's palsy is a condition that causes weakness or paralysis of various degrees in the arm and shoulder that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to muscles, allowing them to move. Abrachial plexus injury can cause an inability to grasp and move the affected hand.

Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of causes. It can be caused by shoulder dystocia as a result of labour that happens when the baby's head gets stuck above the pubic bone of the mother's. This is more likely with certain risk factors such as gestational diabetes or an infant or baby who is too large. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is crucial that doctors recognise this and know how to respond quickly in order to avoid complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or a vacuum extractor during labour or through an emergency Cesarean section.

Symptoms

Erb's Palsy is characterised by a lack of movement of the arm or hand affected and a weak grip. Typically, the symptoms begin to manifest within 6 to 12 months after birth.

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

It is often caused by medical errors that occur during childbirth. For example the doctor pushing on the baby's shoulders too hard (shoulder dystocia). It could also result from a traumatizing birth when the baby is held in a 'waiter's tippy' position, which causes strain on the upper trunk C5-C6 nerves that form part of the brachial system.

Most infants who sustain a stretch injury recover within six to twelve months, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention by using a nerve graft repair the nerves that have been injured. If the damaged nerves aren't repaired, a child may have an ongoing disability that impacts their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

For children with Erb's Palsy there are a number of treatments that can reduce the effects, but the damage cannot be completely repaired. Certain infants suffer from a significant disability and are unable move their arm, hand, or fingers.

The symptoms are caused by an injury to the brachial nerve plexus that innervates all the muscles of the upper limb with the exception for the trapezius. The injury usually affects the upper nerves C5 & C6 and less frequently affects C7. This causes the classic Erb's palsy sign, a waiter tip-like hand that cannot pronate or extend the forearm. In a few cases, nerves are injured and cause Horner's syndrome, which is a pupils that are drooping, and a constricted chin.

It is possible to bring a claim for medical negligence during a birth that leads to an infant suffering from Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition can be caused by excessive force applied to the baby during birth. This can include using a vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps used incorrectly. This can include a doctor who is unable to manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to do a vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean section would be more appropriate.

Treatment

The nerves that comprise the brachial plexus manage movement and feeling in the hand and arm. If a baby is diagnosed as having Erb's Palsy, it signifies that the nerves are injured. Most babies recover within 6 to 12 months but some suffer from an indefinite disability that limits movement and feeling in their arm.

The treatment is centered around physical therapy, which is designed to improve the range of motion in the injured arm. Stretching and passive exercises can be utilized to achieve this. A physiotherapist might also suggest an extension splint, which can aid in movement and reduce stiffness. Surgical intervention is often required in cases of extreme severity to repair damaged nerves by the nerve graft.

A claim for compensation could aid a child suffering from an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest and have access to essential equipment, education, and support. If you think your child's Erb's Palsy was the result of an error in medical treatment at the time of their birth, you may be able to file a claim for financial damages.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit could be able to award families financial compensation in exchange for the care they have given their child. It could also give them the feeling of justice and bring attention to medical professionals who might have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements can assist in covering the cost of physiotherapy for your child in addition to other equipment and treatments needed to help their condition. You may also be compensated for any lost income or earnings resulting from the disability of your child.

If your child has been diagnosed with Erb's palsy and you suspect medical negligence may have played a part in the diagnosis, it is crucial to speak with an experienced lawyer for Erb's palsy as soon as possible. They will be able to advise you on the most effective way to proceed and ensure that all required paperwork is filed prior to when any deadlines end. This will ensure you have the best chances of securing compensation. Our team of expert erb's palsy lawyers can help you get the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to. This will help you pay for the long-term cost of your child's disability and ensure that they have everything they require to live a fulfilling life.