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

Erb's paralysis is caused by an injury to the network of nerves in the arm, shoulder and hand. It can lead to paralysis, as well as other issues.

Medical negligence can lead to this birth injury. The birth injury is usually related to a difficult or premature delivery.

Causes

Most pregnancies and births go well however on the rare occasion things can go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors will assist you when your child suffers from a disability caused by medical malpractice such as Erb's palsy.

Erb's palsy is a condition that causes weakness or paralysis that is varying in the shoulder and arm affected by the brachial nerves. These nerves are responsible for transmitting electrical messages to the muscles to allow them move. Abrachial plexus injury can result in an inability to grasp and move the hand affected.

Erb's Palsy can be caused by a range of causes. Erb's palsy can be caused by shoulder dystocia, which is a condition that occurs when the baby's skull is stuck over the mother's pubic bone. It is more prevalent for women who have risk factors such as gestational diabetics, as well as infants who are large. Shoulder dystocia can be a medical emergency. It is crucial for doctors to recognize this and know what to do to avoid complications. It can also be caused by forceps or vacuum extractors, vimeo or an emergency Cesarean.

Symptoms

Erb's palsy is defined by a lack in movement of the arm or hand affected and an inability to grip. Symptoms usually appear six to twelve months after birth.

The brachialplexus is an intricate network of nerves that runs from the spine along both sides of the neck. They control sensation and movement in the arm, hand and fingers. If damaged, these nerves can lead to weakness or partial paralysis of the affected hand and arm.

It's typically caused by a medical error during childbirth, for example doctors pulling too hard to release a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It can also occur when the baby is placed in the 'waiter' tip position during the delivery, which puts strain on the C5-C6 nerve system that is part of the Brachial Plexus.

The majority of infants who suffer from a stretch injury will recover within six to 12 months. However certain cases are so severe that they require surgical intervention to repair the nerves damaged. If the damaged nerves don't get repaired, a child could have permanent impairment that hinders their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

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

The damage to the brachial-plexus which is the nerve that innervates the upper limb muscles, except for the trapezius creates symptoms. The injury usually affects the upper nerves C5 as well as C6 but less often affects C7. This results in the classic Erb's Palsy sign which is a waiter's tips type hand which cannot pronate or stretch the forearm. In some cases, the nerves that are injured can cause Horner's Syndrome, a pupils that are drooping, and a chin that is constricted.

It is possible to file an action for medical negligence at the time of the birth process that results in a child suffering with Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition is typically caused by excessive force being applied to the baby during birth. This can include using forceps or a ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. This could include a physician who does not manage shoulder dystocia properly, or decides to give birth via vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean delivery would have been more suitable.

Treatment

The nerves that form the brachial plexus manage movement and feeling in the arm and hand. If you find a baby with Erb's palsy, it is a sign that the nerves have been injured. Most babies recover within 6 to 12 months but some suffer from an ongoing disability that affects movement and sensation in their arm.

Treatment is focused on physical therapy which aims to increase the range of motion of the injured arm. Stretching and passive exercises can be used to accomplish this. A physiotherapist can also suggest a specialist extension splint to ease movement and help prevent stiffness. In extreme instances, a nerve graft could be required to repair damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation can aid a child suffering from an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest and have access to essential equipment, medical care, and support. If you think that your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake at the time of their birth, you may be eligible to file an Erb's Palsy claim for financial damages.

Compensation

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

Settlements in the Erb's palsy lawsuit can assist in covering the costs of physiotherapy for your child in addition to other treatments and equipment needed to aid their condition. You could also be compensated for any lost income or earnings due to the disability of your child.

If your child was diagnosed with erb's palsy, and you suspect that medical negligence may have been the reason in this, it is imperative to reach out to an experienced lawyer for massachusetts erb's palsy law firm Palsy as soon as you can. They can advise you on the best approach to take and vimeo ensure that all required paperwork is filed before any deadlines end. This will give you the highest chance of success in securing compensation. Our team of expert erb's palsy lawyers can help you get the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This can help you with the long-term expenses of your child's disabilities and ensure that they have everything they need to live a full, happy and healthy life.