15 Erb's Palsy Case Benefits Everybody Should Know
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 and other issues.
Medical negligence can lead to this birth injury. This birth injury is often due to a challenging or premature delivery.
Causes
Pregnancies and births generally go well but on the rare occasion something can go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors can assist you in the event that your child suffers an impairment that was caused by medical malpractice such as Erb's palsy.
Erb's palsy is a weakness or paralysis that is varying in the shoulder and arm, affecting the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves are responsible for sending electrical signals to muscles to allow them to move. Injury to the brachial plexus can result in an inability to grasp and move the hand that is affected.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a range of factors. It is often caused by shoulder dystocia, a complication of labour that occurs when the baby's skull gets stuck above the pubic bone of the mother's. It is more prevalent for women who have risk factors such as gestational diabetes, large infants or babies. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency, and it is imperative to recognize this and be able to respond quickly in order to avoid complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or the use of a vacuum extractor during labor or even by having an emergency Cesarean section.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of Erb's palsy include a lack in movement in the affected hand or arm and a weak grip. Symptoms usually appear between six and twelve months after birth.
The brachialplexus is the name of a nerve system that runs from the spine to both sides of the neck. It controls movements and sensations of the fingers, arm, and hand. If damaged, these nerves, can cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm or hand.
It's usually the result of the medical error that occurs during childbirth, such as the doctor pulling too hard to release a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It could also result from a violent delivery when the infant is held in a 'waiter's point' position, which causes strain on the upper trunk C5-C6 nerves that are part of the brachial nerve.
The majority of infants who suffer from 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 damaged nerves aren't repaired, a child may have a permanent disability affecting their ability to move and use their arm.
Diagnosis
For children with Erb's Palsy there are a number of treatments to reduce the effects, but the damage will never be fully healed. Some infants suffer from a significant disability and are unable to move their hand, arm or fingers.
The symptoms are caused by a trauma to the brachial area which connects all the muscles of the upper limb, with the exception for the trapezius. The injury is usually to the upper trunks of nerves C5 and C6. Less frequently it may also affect C7. This can cause the Erb's Palsy sign, which is a waiter tip-like hand that cannot pronate nor stretch the forearm. In some cases, the nerves are injured and cause Horner's syndrome, which is a pupil that is drooping and a chin that is constricted.
You can sue for medical negligence in the event that your child suffers from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition can be caused when excessive force is applied to the baby during delivery. This can be caused by using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) in a way that is not correct. This could include a doctor who does not manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to do an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean would have been more appropriate.
Treatment
The nerves that comprise the brachial nerve control movement and feel in the hand and arm. When a baby is diagnosed as having the condition Erb's - it means that the nerves are injured. Most babies recover within 6 to 12 months however some suffer from an indefinite disability that limits the movement and sensation of their arm.
Treatment is focused on physical therapy which aims to increase the range of motion of the injured arm. Passive exercises and stretching can be utilized to achieve this. A physiotherapist may also recommend an extension splint which will help with movement and prevent stiffness. Surgical intervention is often necessary in the most severe cases to repair damaged nerves using the use of a nerve graft.
A compensation claim can aid a child with Erb's Palsy live life to its maximum, and gain access to essential equipment education, medical care, and other. If you believe that your child's condition was the result of an error made by a doctor during their birth, then you could be able to claim an Erb's Palsy claim for damages in the form of money.
Compensation
A successful lawsuit may provide families with financial compensation to treat their child. It can also give them an understanding of justice and bring attention to medical professionals who could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.
Settlements for Erb's lawsuit for palsy can assist in covering the costs of physiotherapy for your child, as well as other equipment and treatments to support their condition. You could also be compensated for any loss of income or earnings due to the disability of your child.
You should seek out an Erb's Palsy lawyer right away if you suspect that medical negligence is involved. They will be able to provide suggestions on how to proceed and make sure that all paperwork is filed in time. This increases the chances of getting compensation. Our team of experts in erb's-palsy will assist you in getting the most compensation to which you are entitled. erb's palsy law firm rockford can help you 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.