Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an Erb's Palsy Claim
Erb's Palsy is a result of an injury to the nerve system in the shoulder, arm and hand. This can cause paralysis and other problems.
This birth injury can be caused by medical negligence. The birth injury is usually due to a challenging or rushed birth.
Causes
Pregnancies and births generally go smoothly, but on the rare occasion things can go wrong. If your child was born with a disability that was 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 can be varying in severity or even paralysis in the shoulder or arms, affecting the brachial nerves. These nerves transmit electrical signals to the muscles, allowing them to move. Injuries to the brachial nerve can cause an inability to grasp and move the hand affected.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of factors. Erb's palsy is often caused by shoulder dystocia which is a complication that occurs when the baby's skull is stuck above the mother’s pubic bone. It is more frequent with certain risk factors, such as gestational diabetes or the size of a baby or infant. Shoulder dystocia could be a medical emergency. It is crucial for doctors to recognize this and be aware of the best way to treat it to avoid complications. It can also be caused by forceps or vacuum extractors, or an emergency Cesarean.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of Erb's palsy are a lack of movement in the affected arm or hand and weak grip strength. Symptoms typically manifest within six to twelve months of the birth.
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that extend from the spine down both sides of the neck, regulating movement and sensation in the arm, hand and fingers. If damaged, these nerves, can cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm or hand.
It's usually the result of a medical error during childbirth, for example a doctor pulling too hard to release the baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It could also be caused by a traumatic birth when the baby is held in a 'waiter's tippy posture, which causes strain on the C5-C6 upper trunk nerves which are part of the brachial system.
The majority of infants who suffer an injury from a stretch recover within six to twelve months, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgery with a nerve graft in order to restore the injured nerves. If the nerves that are damaged aren't repaired, children may suffer from an indefinite disability that affects their ability to move and use their arm.
Diagnosis
There are a variety of treatment options for children with Erb’s Palsy, but the injury cannot be fully repaired. erb's palsy attorney cranston suffer from a significant disability, and are unable move their arm, hand or fingers.
The injury to the brachial-plexus, which innervates the upper limb muscles, excluding the trapezius, can cause symptoms. The most common injury is to the upper trunks of nerves C5 and C6. Infrequently it may also affect C7. This can cause the Erb's-Palsy sign, a waiter tip-like hand that cannot pronate nor bend the forearm. In certain cases, damaged nerves can also cause Horner syndrome. It is manifested by a drooping pupil and a tightened face.
It is possible to make a claim for medical negligence in the birth of a child suffering with Erb's Palsy. This is due to the fact that this condition is usually caused by excessive force exerted on the baby during the delivery process. This can result from using forceps or a ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. This could be a result of a doctor who fails to treat shoulder dystocia properly or decides to do an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean would be more suitable.
Treatment
The nerves that comprise the brachial plexus control movement and feel in the arm and hand. If a baby is diagnosed with Erb's Palsy it means that nerves are injured. Most babies recover within 6 to 12 months but some are left with a permanent disability affecting movement and feeling in their arm.
Treatment is focused on physical therapy that seeks to improve the range of motion in the injured arm. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways including stretching exercises and passive exercises. A physiotherapist can also recommend an extension splint designed by a specialist to aid in flexibility and prevent stiffness. Surgical intervention may be required in severe cases to repair damaged nerves using the nerve graft.
A claim for compensation can help a child with an Erb's Palsy injury live their life to the fullest, and access essential equipment, medical care, and assistance. If you suspect that your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake at the time of their birth, you might be able to make an Erb's Palsy claim for monetary damages.
Compensation
A successful lawsuit can be able to award families financial compensation in exchange for the treatment of their child. It could also provide them with a an appreciation for justice and draw attention to medical professionals that could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.
Settlements for Erb's lawsuit for palsy will help pay for the cost of physiotherapy for your child in addition to other treatments and equipment required to help their condition. You could also 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 give you suggestions on how you can proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed in time. This will ensure you have the best chance of getting compensation. Our team of specialized erb's palsy lawyers can help you obtain the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This will help you pay for the long-term expenses of your child's disability and ensure that they have everything they need to lead a fulfilling, healthy life.