Lawerence Tonkin asked 9 months ago
Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an Erb’s Palsy Claim
Erb’s spalsy is caused by 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 related to a difficult or rushed birth.
Causes
The majority of births and pregnancies are a breeze, but, on rare occasions something could go wrong. If your child was born with a disability caused by medical negligence, such as Erb’s palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you obtain compensation for their ongoing suffering.
Erb’s palsy is a weakness that causes paralysis that is varying in the arm and shoulder that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves are responsible for transmitting electrical signals to muscles to allow them to move. Injuries to the brachial nerve can cause an inability to grasp and move the hand affected.
There are several causes of Erb’s palsy. It can be caused by shoulder dystocia which is a complication of labour that occurs when the baby’s head is stuck above the pubic bone of the mother’s. It is more frequent in 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 are aware of this and are able to respond quickly in order to avoid complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or an extractor vacuum during labour or even by having an emergency Cesarean section.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Erb’s palsy include a lack of movement in the affected arm or hand and weak grip strength. The symptoms usually manifest six to twelve months after birth.
The brachialplexus is a set of nerves that extend from the spine to both sides of the neck. They control motion and sensation in the hand, arm and fingers. If damaged, these nerves could cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm or hand.
It is usually caused by medical errors during childbirth. For instance doctors pulling on the baby’s shoulders too hard (shoulder dystocia). It could be caused by a traumatic birth, especially if the infant is placed in a ‘waiter’s tippy position, which puts tension on the C5-C6 nerves in the upper trunk which form part of the brachial plexus.
Most infants who suffer injuries to their limbs or legs will recover in six to 12 months. However there are cases that are so severe that they require surgery to repair the damaged nerves. If the nerves affected are not repaired then a child could be left with an indefinite disability that limits their ability to move their arm.
Diagnosis
For children suffering from Erb’s Palsy there are a variety options to treat the effects, however the injury is not able to be completely repaired. Some children are left with a significant disability and are unable to move their arms, hands or fingers.
The damage to the brachial-plexus which is responsible for the innervation of 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 is the most common sign of Erb’s palsy which is a type of waiter’s hand which cannot pronate or stretch the forearm. In some cases, the nerves are damaged and can result in Horner syndrome. The symptoms include a drooping pupil and a constricted face.
It is possible to make a claim for medical negligence at the time of a birth that leads to an infant suffering from Erb’s Palsy. This is because the condition is often caused by excessive force applied to the baby during birth. This can be caused by using forceps or a ventouse (vacuum extraction) in a way that is not correct. It can also include a doctor who is not controlling shoulder dystocia properly, or deciding to perform vaginal or breech birth when a more conventional caesarean delivery would be more suitable.
Treatment
The nerves of the brachialplexus control movement and sensation in the hands and arm. If a baby’s diagnosis is as having Erb’s Palsy, it signifies that the nerves are injured. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months, however some have a long-term disability that restricts movement and feeling in their arm.
Physical therapy is utilized to improve range of motion. Stretching and passive exercises can be used to accomplish this. A physiotherapist could also recommend an extension splint, which can aid in movement and avoid stiffness. In the most severe instances, a nerve graft may be needed to reconstruct damaged nerves.
A claim for compensation may aid a child suffering from an Erb’s Palsy injury live their life to the fullest and have access to essential equipment, care, education and assistance. If you believe your child’s condition was caused by a medical mistake during their birth, you could be eligible to submit an Erb’s Palsy claim for monetary damages.
Compensation
A successful lawsuit could award families financial compensation for the treatment of their child. 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 in addition to other treatments and equipment needed to aid their condition. They may also reimburse you for any loss of income or earnings due to your child’s disability.
If your child has been diagnosed with Erb’s palsy, and you suspect that medical negligence played a role in the diagnosis, it is crucial to get in touch with an experienced Erb’s palsy lawyer immediately. They can assist you in the best approach to take and ensure that all paperwork is filed before deadlines run out. This increases your chances of obtaining compensation. Our team of specialized erb’s palsy lawyers can help you obtain the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This can help you deal with the long-term expenses of your child’s disabilities and make sure that they have everything they need to lead a happy, healthy life.