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

Erb's palsy is an injury to the network of nerves in the shoulder, arm and hand. This can lead to paralysis and other issues.

Medical negligence can result in this birth injury. This birth injury is often linked to a difficult or rushed birth.

Causes

In rare circumstances there are occasions when things occur that 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 condition that causes weakness or paralysis that is varying in the arm and shoulder affected by the brachial nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to muscles, allowing them to move. Injuries to the brachial nerve can result in an inability to grasp and move the hand in the affected area.

There are a number of causes of Erb's palsy. Erb's syndrome can be 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 common for women who have risk factors such as gestational diabetes, large babies or infants. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is crucial that doctors recognise this and understand how to respond quickly in order to avoid complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or a vacuum extractor during labour or even by having an emergency Cesarean section.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Erb's palsy are a lack of movement in the affected hand or arm and weak grip strength. The symptoms usually manifest within six to twelve months of the birth.

The brachialplexus is an intricate network of nerves that extend from the spine and down both sides of the neck, controlling motion and sensation in the hand, arm and fingers. If damaged, these nerves can cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected hand and arm.

It's usually caused by an error made by a doctor during childbirth, for example doctors pulling too hard to release a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It can also be caused when the baby is placed in the 'waiter' position during the delivery, which puts strain on the C5-C6 upper trunk nerve system, which is part of the Brachial Plexus.

Most infants who suffer injuries to their limbs or legs will recover within six to 12 months. However some cases are so severe that they require surgery to repair the nerves damaged. If the damaged nerves don't get repaired, a child could have permanent disabilities that limit their ability to move their arm.

Diagnosis

For children suffering from Erb's Palsy there are a number options to treat the impact, but the injury cannot be completely repaired. Certain infants suffer from a significant disability, and are unable to move their arm, hand, or fingers.

The damage to the brachial-plexus which innervates the upper limb muscles, excluding the trapezius, causes symptoms. The injury typically affects the upper trunk of nerves C5 and C6 and Erb's Palsy less frequently affects C7. This results in the classical sign of Erb's palsy which is a waiter's tips type hand that is unable to pronate or bend the forearm. In certain cases, nerves are damaged and can result in Horner syndrome. It is evident by an elongated pupil and constricted face.

It is possible to bring an action for medical negligence in the birth process that results in a child suffering with Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition can be caused when excessive force is applied to the baby during birth. This can include using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. It could also be a doctor not managing shoulder dystocia appropriately or deciding to do an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean section earlier would have been more suitable.

Treatment

The nerves of the brachial system control movement and feel in the arm and hand. When a baby is diagnosed as having Erb's Palsy, it signifies that nerves are injured. Most babies recover in six to 12 months. However, some are left with permanent disabilities that limit movement and sensation in their arm.

Treatment is focused on physical therapy that aims to increase the range of motion in the injured arm. This can be done in a variety of ways including stretching exercises and passive exercises. A physiotherapist can also recommend a specialist extension splint to ease movement and help prevent stiffness. In the case of severe cases, a nerve graft may be needed to reconstruct damaged nerves.

A claim for compensation may help a child suffering from an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest and have access to essential equipment, treatment, and support. If you believe your child's condition is the result of a medical mistake at the time of their birth, you might be able to file an Erb's Palsy claim for damages in the form of money.

Compensation

A successful lawsuit could award families financial compensation that will help pay for their child's treatment. It may also give them an understanding of justice and bring attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.

Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements will help pay for the cost of physiotherapy for your child in addition to other equipment and treatments to support their condition. They also offer compensation for any loss of income or earnings due to the disability of your child.

If your child was diagnosed with erb's palsy and you suspect that medical negligence played a role in this, it is imperative to contact an experienced Erb's palsy lawyer whenever you can. They can guide you on the best method to proceed and ensure that all paperwork is filed before deadlines expire. This increases the chances of receiving compensation. Our team of specialized erb's palsy lawyers can help you claim the maximum amount of compensation you're entitled to. This could help offset the long-term costs associated with your child's disability and make sure that they have everything they require to live a happy life.