Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an Erb's Palsy Claim
Erb's Palsy is caused by damage to the nerve network in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can cause paralysis, as well as other problems.
The birth injury could be caused by medical negligence. It can be linked to a challenging or rushed delivery particularly when the baby's shoulders become stuck during labour.
Causes
Pregnancies and births generally are normal, however, on the rare occasion something could go wrong. If your child was born with a disability that was caused by medical negligence, like Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you seek compensation for their ongoing suffering.
Erb's'Palsy' is a weakness with varying degrees of paralysis in the shoulder and arms that affects the brachial nerves. These nerves transmit electrical signals to the muscles, allowing them to move. Brachialplexus injuries can cause a loss of ability to move and grip the affected hand.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a range of factors. It is often caused by shoulder dystocia as a result of labour that occurs when the baby's skull gets stuck above the mother's pubic bone. It is more common in women with certain risk factors such as gestational diabetics and babies that are too big or overweight. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is imperative that doctors are aware of this and understand how to react quickly to avoid complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or an extractor vacuum during labour or during an emergency Cesarean section.
Signs and symptoms
Erb's Palsy is characterized by a lack in movement of the arm or hand affected, as well as an inability to grip. Symptoms typically manifest six to twelve months after the birth.
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that runs from the spine along both sides of the neck, managing movement and sensation in the arm, hand and fingers. These nerves, if damaged could cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm or hand.
It's often caused by an error in medical care during childbirth, like doctors pulling too hard to release a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It could result from a violent birth when the baby is held in a 'waiter's point posture, which causes strain on the upper trunk C5-C6 nerves which form part of the brachial.
The majority of infants who sustain an injury from a stretch recover within six to twelve months and are usually able to return home within six months, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention with a nerve graft to repair the nerves that have been injured. If the nerves damaged aren't repaired, a child may have permanent impairment that limits their ability to move and use 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 are left with significant disability and cannot move their arms, hands or fingers.
The injury to the brachial plexus, which is the nerve that innervates the upper limb muscles, with the exception of the trapezius creates symptoms. The most common injury is to the upper trunks of nerves C5 and C6. Infrequently is it possible to affect C7. This results in the classical sign of Erb's palsy the waiter's tip hand that cannot pronate, or extend the forearm. In some instances, nerves that are injured can cause Horner's syndrome, which is a pupil that is drooping and a chin that is constricted.
It is possible to file an action for medical negligence in the birth process that results in the child being diagnosed with Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition is typically caused when excessive force is applied to the baby during delivery. This can result from using forceps or a ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. This could include a doctor who isn't able to manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to perform an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean delivery would have been more appropriate.
Treatment
The nerves that comprise the brachial plexus manage movement and feeling in the hand and arm. If a baby is identified with Erb's Palsy it signifies that the nerves are injured. The majority of babies recover within six to 12 months. However, some suffer from permanent disabilities that limit movement and feeling in their arm.
Treatment is focused on physical therapy which aims to increase the range of motion of the injured arm. This can be done in different ways, such as stretching exercises and passive exercises. A physiotherapist may also recommend an extension splint, which can aid in movement and reduce stiffness. In extreme instances, a nerve graft may be needed to reconstruct damaged nerves.
A claim for compensation could assist a child suffering an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest extent and access essential equipment, treatment, and assistance. If you believe that your child's illness was caused by an error in medical care during their birth, you could be eligible to file 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 can also bring them an awareness of justice and make medical professionals aware of who might have prevented a brachial or plexus injury.
Settlements in the Erb's palsy lawsuit will help pay for the costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child and other treatments and equipment needed to treat their condition. They also offer compensation for any loss of earnings or income due to your child's disability.
If your child was diagnosed with erb's palsy, and you suspect that medical negligence may have been the reason in this, it is imperative to reach out to an experienced lawyer for Erb's Palsy immediately. They can provide you with guidance on how to proceed and make sure that all paperwork is filed in time. erb's palsy lawsuit frisco increases your chances of obtaining compensation. Our team of erb's-palsy specialists can assist you in obtaining the maximum compensation you are entitled. This will help pay for the long-term expenses of your child's disabilities and ensure that they have everything they require to live a full and happy life.