Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an Erb's Palsy Claim
Erb's palsy is damage to the nerve network in the shoulder, arm and hand. It can cause paralysis, as well as other problems.
The birth injury could be caused by medical negligence. This birth injury is usually due to a challenging or rushed delivery.
Causes
On rare occasions it is possible for things to happen to go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors will assist you when your child suffers from an impairment that was caused by medical malpractice such as Erb's Palsy.
Erb's Palsy is a condition with varying degrees of paralysis of the shoulder and arms, that affects the brachial nerves. These nerves are responsible for sending electrical signals to muscles to allow them move. Injuries to the brachialplexus could cause a decline in the ability to move and grip the hand affected.
There are a number of causes of Erb's palsy. Erb's syndrome can be caused by shoulder dystocia which is a condition that occurs when the baby's skull gets stuck over the mother's pubic bone. It is more common in women who have certain risk factors, such as gestational diabetics, as well as infants who are large. Shoulder dystocia could be an emergency medical situation. It is crucial for doctors to be aware of this and know what to do to avoid complications. It can also happen by forceps, vacuum extractors, or have an emergency Cesarean.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Erb's Palsy include a lack of motion in the affected hand or arm and a weak grip strength. Symptoms typically manifest within six to twelve months of the birth.
The brachialplexus is a network of nerves that extends from the spine to both sides of the neck. It controls the movement and sensation of the fingers, arm, and hand. If they are damaged, these nerves may cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and hand.
erb's palsy attorneys bolingbrook is often caused by medical errors during childbirth. For example doctors pulling on the baby's shoulders too hard (shoulder dystocia). It can also result from a traumatizing birth when the baby is held in a 'waiter's tips posture, which causes tension on the C5-C6 nerves of the upper trunk which form part of the brachial nerve.
Most infants who suffer a stretch injury will recover within 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 treated, a child may have an ongoing disability that impacts their ability to move and use their arm.
Diagnosis
For children with Erb's Palsy there are a variety of treatments to reduce the effects, however the injury will never be fully healed. Some infants are left with significant disability and are unable to move their arms, hands or fingers.
Symptoms are caused by injury to the brachial plexus which provides all the muscles of the upper limb with the exception for the trapezius. The injury is usually to the upper nerves of C5 or C6. It is less often, however is it also affecting C7. This results in the classical Erb's palsy sign which is a type of waiter's hand that cannot pronate, or flex the forearm. In some instances, injured nerves also cause Horner's disease, a pupils that are drooping, and a constricted chin.
You can sue for medical negligence if your child suffers from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is due to the fact that this condition is often caused by excessive force being imposed on the baby during the birth process. This could be due to using the vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps used incorrectly. This could include a physician who isn't able to manage shoulder dystocia properly, or decides to do an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean birth would be more suitable.
Treatment
The nerves of the brachialplexus control sensation and movement in the hands and arms. If a baby is diagnosed as having Erb's palsy, it indicates that nerves are injured. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, however some suffer from a permanent disability that limits movement and sensation in their arm.
The treatment is centered around physical therapy which aims to increase the range of motion of the injured arm. Passive exercises and stretching can be used to achieve this. A physiotherapist may also suggest a specialist extension splint to assist with movements and reduce stiffness. In the case of severe instances, a nerve graft could be needed to rebuild damaged nerves.
A compensation claim can help a child suffering from Erb's Palsy live life to the maximum, and gain access to the essential equipment as well as education and medical. If you believe your child's condition was the result of an unintentional medical error during their birth, you could be able to submit an Erb's Palsy claim for damages in the form of money.
Compensation
A successful lawsuit could award families financial compensation that will help fund their child's medical treatment. It can also help them feel satisfaction and draw attention to medical professionals who might have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.
Settlements from the Erb's Palsy lawsuits can be used to pay for the cost of physiotherapy for your child and other equipment and treatments needed to treat their condition. You may also be compensated for any lost income or earnings resulting from the disability of your child.
If your child was diagnosed with erb's palsy and you believe that medical negligence may have played a part in the diagnosis, it is crucial to reach out to an experienced lawyer for Erb's Palsy whenever you can. They can advise you on the best approach to take and ensure that all required paperwork is filed before deadlines run out. This will increase your chances of receiving compensation. Our team of specialist erb's palsy lawyers can help you claim the highest amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This can help with the long-term expenses of your child's disability and make sure they have everything they need to live a happy life.