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Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an Erb’s Palsy Claim

Erb’s Palsy is caused due to damage to the nerve network in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can cause paralysis, as well as other issues.

This birth injury can be the result of medical negligence. This birth injury is typically due to a challenging or premature delivery.

Causes

In rare cases, things can be a mess. If your child was born with a disability that was caused by medical negligence, like Erb’s palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you obtain compensation for their ongoing suffering.

Erb’s palsy is a condition that causes weakness or paralysis of various degrees in the arm and shoulder that affects the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to muscles, which allow them to move. Injuries to the brachialplexus could cause a loss of ability to move and grip the hand that is affected.

There are a number of causes of Erb’s palsy. It can be caused by shoulder dystocia which is a complication of labour that happens when the baby’s head becomes stuck above the pubic bone of the mother’s. It is more frequent in women with certain risk factors such as gestational diabetes, babies that are too big or overweight. Shoulder dystocia is 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 occur by forceps, vacuum extractors, or an emergency Cesarean.

Signs and symptoms

Erb’s Palsy is characterised by a lack of movement of the arm or hand affected and a weak grip. Usually, the symptoms appear within six to 12 months after the birth.

The brachialplexus nerve system that runs from the spine to both sides of the neck. It regulates movements and sensations of the fingers, arm, and hand. If damaged, these nerves may cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and hand.

It’s typically caused by the medical error that occurs during childbirth, for example doctors pulling too hard to release the baby’s head (shoulder dystocia). It can be caused by a painful birth when the baby is placed in a ‘waiter’s tips’ position, which causes tension on the C5-C6 nerves in the upper trunk which form part of the brachial nerve.

The majority of infants who sustain injuries to their limbs recover within six to 12 months however, there are some cases that are severe enough to require surgical intervention with a nerve graft in order to repair the nerves that have been injured. If the damaged nerves are not repaired, then the child may be left with an ongoing disability that impacts their ability to move and use their arm.

Diagnosis

For children with Erb’s Palsy there are a number of treatments to lessen the impact, but the injury is not able to be completely repaired. A few infants suffer from significant disability and are unable move their arm, hand or fingers.

The injury to the brachial-plexus, which is the nerve that innervates the upper limb muscles, except for the trapezius creates symptoms. The injury usually affects the upper trunk of nerves C5 and C6. It is less likely to affect C7. This results in the classic erb’s palsy attorney palsy sign the waiter’s tip hand that is unable to pronate or bend the forearm. In some cases, the injured nerves also cause Horner’s syndrome, which is a pupil that droops and a chin that is constricted.

It is possible to bring an action for medical negligence in the birth process that results in the child being diagnosed with Erb’s Palsy. This is because this condition is often caused by excessive force exerted on the baby during the delivery process. This includes using a vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps improperly. This could be a result of a doctor who is unable to control shoulder dystocia correctly, or decides to give birth via vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean delivery would be more appropriate.

Treatment

The brachialplexus’s nerves control movement and sensation in the hands and arms. When a baby is diagnosed as having Erb’s Palsy, it means that the nerves are injured. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months however some are left with a permanent disability affecting the movement and sensation of their arm.

Physical therapy can be used to improve range of motion. Passive exercises and stretching can be used to achieve this. A physiotherapist might also suggest an extension splint to help with movement and prevent stiffness. Surgery is sometimes necessary in the most 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, education, and support. If you believe that your child’s illness was caused by an error made by a doctor 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 be able to award families financial compensation in exchange for the treatment they received from their child. It may also give them the feeling of justice and draw attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.

Settlements from the Erb’s Palsy lawsuits can help cover the costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child as well as other treatments and equipment required to treat their condition. They also offer compensation for any loss of income or earnings caused by your child’s disability.

If your child was diagnosed with erb’s palsy and you suspect medical negligence may have played a part in the diagnosis, it is crucial to reach out to an experienced lawyer for erb’s palsy lawyer Palsy whenever you can. They can assist you in the most effective way to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed before any deadlines expire. This will ensure you have the best chance of securing compensation. Our team of specialist Erb’s palsy lawyers will help you get the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to. This will help you pay for the long-term costs associated with your child’s disabilities and make sure that they have everything they require to lead a fulfilling, healthy life.