Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an Erb's Palsy Claim
Erb's Palsy is a result of an injury to the nerve network in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can cause paralysis and a range of other problems.
This birth injury can be caused by medical negligence. This birth injury is often caused by a difficult or premature delivery.
Causes
Pregnancies and births usually are a breeze, however, on the rare occasion things can go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors will assist you in the event that your child suffers a disability that was caused by medical malpractice such as Erb's Palsy.
Erb's palsy can be described as a weakness or paralysis of various degrees in the arm and shoulder that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to the muscles, allowing them to move. Injury to the brachial plexus can cause an inability to grip and move the hand that is affected.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of factors. Erb's palsy can be caused by shoulder dystocia which is a complication that occurs when the baby's skull is stuck over the mother's pubic bone. This is more likely with certain risk factors, such as gestational diabetes and an infant or baby who is too large. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is crucial to recognize this and understand how to respond quickly in order to avoid complications for the baby. It can also be caused by forceps, vacuum extractors, or an emergency Cesarean.
Symptoms
Erb's spalsy is identified by a lack of movement of the arm or hand affected, as well as an inability to grip. Usually, the symptoms appear between six and 12 months after birth.
The brachialplexus is the name of a nerve system that runs from the spine to both sides of the neck. It controls motion and sensation of the fingers, arms, and hand. If they are damaged, these nerves could cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and hand.
It's often caused by an error made by a doctor during childbirth, for example a doctor pulling too hard to release the baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It could also occur when the baby is placed in the 'waiter' position during the delivery, which puts strain on the upper trunk C5-C6 nervous system, which forms part of the Brachial Plexus.
The majority of infants who suffer from an injury to their stretch will recover in six to 12 months. However some 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 an indefinite disability that limits their ability to move their arm.
Diagnosis
There are a variety of treatment options for children suffering from Erb's Palsy however, the damage cannot be fully repaired. Some infants have a significant disability and are unable to move their arms, hands or fingers.
Symptoms are caused by injury to the brachial plexus which is the main muscle of the upper limb with the exception for the trapezius. The injury usually affects the upper nerves of C5 or C6. Infrequently is it possible to affect C7. This is the reason for the Erb's Palsy sign, a hand that resembles a waiter's tip, unable to pronate nor bend the forearm. In some cases the injured nerves also cause Horner's disease, a pupil that droops and a chin that is constricted.
It is possible to file an action for medical negligence at the time of the birth of a child suffering with Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition is usually caused by excessive force placed on the baby during the birth process. This can be caused by using a vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps used incorrectly. It could also involve a doctor who is not managing shoulder dystocia correctly or deciding to give birth via vaginal birth or breech when a caesarean section earlier would be more appropriate.
Treatment
The brachialplexus' nerves control the movement and feel of the arm and hands. When a baby is diagnosed with Erb's Palsy it indicates that the nerves are injured. The majority of babies recover within six to 12 months. However, some are left with an ongoing disability that affects movement and sensation in their arm.
The treatment is centered around physical therapy that aims to increase the range of motion in the injured arm. Passive exercises and stretching are a great way to achieve this. A physiotherapist can also suggest a specialist extension splint to assist with the movement and reduce stiffness. In the case of severe cases, a graft of nerves may be needed to reconstruct damaged nerves.
A claim for compensation can assist a child suffering an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest extent and access essential equipment, care, education and assistance. If you believe that 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 make a claim for monetary damages.
Compensation
A successful lawsuit may award families financial compensation that will help fund their child's medical treatment. It can also give them the feeling of justice and draw attention to medical professionals that could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.
Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements will help pay for the costs of physiotherapy for your child as well as other treatments and equipment required to aid their condition. You could also receive compensation for any loss of income or earnings resulting from the disability of your child.
If your child has been diagnosed with
erb's palsy lawyer palsy and you believe that medical negligence may have played a part, it is important to get in touch with an experienced lawyer for Erb's Palsy immediately. They can assist you in the best method to proceed and ensure that all required paperwork is filed before any deadlines run out. This increases your chances of getting compensation. Our team of experts from Erb's-Palsy can help you get the maximum compensation you are entitled. This will help you pay for
Erb's Palsy lawsuit the long-term costs of your child's disability and ensure that they have everything they require to lead a happy, healthy life.