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 shoulder, arm and hand. This can lead to paralysis and other problems.
This birth injury can be the result of medical negligence. The birth injury is usually caused by a difficult or rushed delivery.
Causes
Pregnancies and births usually are normal, but on the rare occasion things can go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors can help should your child suffer from a disability that was brought on by medical negligence like Erb's palsy.
Erb's'Palsy' is a weakness that can be varying in severity or even paralysis of the shoulder and arms, that affects the brachial nerves. These nerves are responsible for transmitting electrical signals to muscles to allow them to move. Injuries to the brachial nerve can result in an inability to grip and move the hand in the affected area.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a range of factors. Erb's Palsy can be caused by shoulder dystocia, which is a condition that occurs when the baby's skull gets stuck above the mother's pubic bone. It is more common for women who have risk factors like gestational diabetes, large babies or infants. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is important to recognize this and be able to react quickly to avoid complications for the baby. It can also happen by forceps, vacuum extractors or emergency Cesarean.
Signs and symptoms
Erb's spalsy is identified by a lack in movement of the arm or hand affected and a weak grip. Symptoms typically appear within six to twelve months of the birth.
The brachialplexus is a nerve network that extends from the spine to both sides of the neck. It regulates the movement and sensation of the fingers, arm, and hand. These nerves, if damaged could cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.
It's often caused by an error made by a doctor during childbirth, like a doctor pulling too hard to free the baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It could also result from a traumatizing birth when the baby is held in a 'waiter's tippy position, which puts tension on the C5-C6 nerves in the upper trunk that form part of the brachial.
Most infants who suffer from an injury to their stretch will recover within six to 12 months and are usually able to return home within six months, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention using a nerve graft to repair the injured nerves. If the nerves affected do not get repaired and rehabilitated, a child could suffer permanent disabilities that limit their ability to move their arm.
Diagnosis
For children who suffer from Erb's Palsy there are a number of treatments that can reduce the effects, however the injury can never be fully repaired. Some infants are left with a significant impairment and are unable to move their hands, arms or fingers.
The symptoms are caused by an injury to the brachial nerve plexus that connects all the muscles of the upper limb with the exception for the trapezius. The injury is usually to the upper trunks of nerves C5 or C6. It is less often, however it may also affect C7. This causes the classic Erb's palsy sign, a waiter tip-like hand that is unable to pronate nor flex the forearm. In certain cases, nerves damaged may also result in Horner syndrome. The symptoms include pupils that are drooping as well as a tightened face.
You can file a claim for medical negligence If your child has Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition can be caused by excessive force being applied to the baby during delivery. This can include using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. This could be a result of a doctor who is unable to manage shoulder dystocia properly, or decides to give birth via the vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean would have been more suitable.
Treatment
The nerves of the brachial plexus manage movement and feeling in the hand and arm. If the baby is diagnosed with Erb's spalsy, this means the nerves have been injured. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, however some have a long-term disability that restricts movement and feeling in their arm.
Physical therapy is a method to improve range of motion. It can be done in different ways, such as stretching exercises, as well as passive exercises. A physiotherapist may also suggest a specialist extension splint to assist with movement and help prevent stiffness. Surgery is sometimes required in cases of extreme severity to repair damaged nerves using an graft of nerves.
A claim for compensation could help a child suffering from an Erb's Palsy injury live their life to the fullest and access essential equipment, education, and support. If you think that your child's condition is the result of an unintentional medical error at the time of their birth, you could be eligible to claim an Erb's Palsy claim for damages in the form of money.
Compensation
A successful lawsuit could award families financial compensation for the care they have given their child. It could also provide them with a a sense justice and bring attention to medical professionals that could have prevented a brachial plexus injury.
Settlements in the Erb's palsy lawsuit will help pay for the costs of physiotherapy for your child as well as other equipment and treatments to help their condition. They can also compensate you for any loss of earnings or income caused by your child's disability.
If your child has been diagnosed with erb's palsy and you suspect medical negligence may have been the reason it is essential to get in touch with an experienced lawyer for Erb's palsy as soon as you can. They can provide you with guidance on how to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed in time. This increases your chances of obtaining compensation. Our team of erb's-palsy specialists can assist you in obtaining the maximum compensation you are entitled to. erb's palsy lawsuit buffalo could help offset the long-term cost of your child's disability, and ensure that they have everything they require to live a happy life.