What Is Erb's Palsy Case? And How To Utilize It
Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an Erb's Palsy Claim
Erb's spalsy is caused by damage to the nerve network in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can lead to paralysis and other issues.
This birth injury can be the result of medical negligence. It can be linked to the birth process being rushed or difficult, especially when the baby's shoulders are stuck during labor.
Causes
The majority of births and pregnancies go well however, on the rare occasion something can go wrong. If your child was born with a disability that was caused by medical negligence, such as Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you seek compensation for the ongoing suffering.
Erb's'Palsy' is a weakness with varying degrees of paralysis of the shoulder and arms, which affects the brachial nerves. These nerves are responsible for transmitting electrical signals to muscles to allow them to move. Injuries to the brachial nerve may result in the inability to grip and move the hand affected.
There are several causes of Erb's syndrome. Erb's syndrome can be caused by shoulder dystocia which is a condition that occurs when the baby's skull becomes stuck over the mother's pubic bone. This is more likely in certain risk factors like gestational diabetes, and the size of a baby or infant. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency, and it is crucial that doctors recognise this and are able to respond quickly in order to avoid complications for the baby. erb's palsy law firm austin can also be caused by forceps or vacuum extractors, or an emergency Cesarean.
Symptoms
Erb's spalsy is identified by a lack in movement of the hand or arm affected, as well as an inability to grip. Typically, the symptoms begin to manifest within six to 12 months following birth.
The brachial plexus is a system of nerves that extend from the spine to both sides of the neck, managing movement and sensation in the hand, arm and fingers. These nerves, if damaged, can cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.
It is usually caused by birth-related medical errors. For instance doctors pulling on the baby's shoulder too much (shoulder dystocia). It can also be caused when the baby is placed in the 'waiter tip' position during delivery that puts stress on the C5-C6 upper trunk nerve system that forms part of the Brachial Plexus.
The majority of infants who sustain a stretch injury recover within six to twelve months in most cases, with the exception of cases that are severe enough to require surgery with a nerve graft to repair the injured nerves. If the nerves damaged are not repaired and rehabilitated, a child could suffer permanent disabilities that limit their ability to move their arm.
Diagnosis
For children with Erb's Palsy there are a variety of treatments to lessen the impact, but the injury is not able to be completely repaired. Certain infants suffer from a significant disability, and are unable to move their arms, hands or fingers.
The damage to the brachial-plexus which innervates the upper limb muscles, excluding the trapezius, results in symptoms. The injury usually affects the upper nerves C5 and C6 and less frequently affects C7. The result is the classic Erb's Palsy sign, which is a waiter tip-like hand that cannot pronate nor extend the forearm. In some cases, the injured nerves can also cause Horner's syndrome, a pupil that is drooping and a constricted chin.
You can sue for medical negligence If your child has Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is because the condition is usually caused by excessive force being applied to the baby during birth. This can result from using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. It can also include the doctor not managing shoulder dystocia appropriately or opting to have vaginal or breech birth when an earlier caesarean section would be more suitable.
Treatment
The nerves of the brachialplexus regulate movement and sensation in the hands and arms. If you find a baby with Erb's spalsy, this means the nerves have been damaged. Most babies recover within 6 to 12 months however some are left with a permanent disability affecting movement and sensation in their arm.
Treatment is focused on physical therapy, which is designed to increase the range of motion of the injured arm. This can be achieved in a variety of ways including passive exercises and stretching. A physiotherapist can also recommend an extension splint designed by a specialist to aid in flexibility and prevent stiffness. Surgery may be required in cases of extreme severity to repair damaged nerves with a nerve graft.
A claim for compensation may assist a child suffering an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest, and access essential equipment, treatment, and assistance. If you believe your child's Palsy was the result of an error in medical care at the time of their birth, you might be able file a claim for financial damages.
Compensation
A successful lawsuit could provide families with financial compensation for the treatment of their child. It can also bring them satisfaction and make medical professionals aware of who could have prevented a brachial plexus injury.
Settlements for Erb's-Palsy lawsuits can pay for physiotherapy as well as other treatments or equipment required to treat your child's disability. They can also compensate you for any loss of earnings or income caused by your child's disability.
If your child has been diagnosed with erb's palsy and you believe that medical negligence played a role in this, it is imperative to speak with an experienced lawyer for Erb's palsy as soon as you can. They will be able to provide advice on how to proceed and make sure that all paperwork is filed in time. This will give you the greatest chances of securing compensation. Our team of erb's palsy specialists can help you get the maximum compensation you are entitled. This could help offset the long-term cost of your child's disability and make sure they have everything they need to live a full and happy life.