Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an Erb's Palsy Claim
Erb's Palsy is caused due to nerve damage in the arm, shoulder and hand. This can lead to paralysis and other problems.
erb's palsy lawsuit beaumont can lead to this birth injury. It is often linked to the birth process being rushed or difficult in particular when the baby's shoulders get stuck during labour.
Causes
Most pregnancies and births are a breeze, but on the rare occasion something can go wrong. If your child was born with a disability caused by medical negligence, like Erb's palsy, Hudgell Solicitors can help you seek compensation for their ongoing suffering.
Erb's Palsy is a condition of varying degrees or paralysis in the shoulder and arms, which affects the brachial nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to muscles, which allow them to move. Injuries to the brachial nerve can cause an inability to grasp and move the affected hand.
There are many causes of Erb's Palsy. Erb's syndrome can be caused by shoulder dystocia which is a condition that occurs when the baby's head gets stuck over the mother's pubic bone. It can happen more frequently when there are certain risk factors, like gestational diabetes, and an infant or child who is large. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is important that doctors recognize this and be able to respond swiftly to avoid complications for the baby. It can also happen by forceps, vacuum extractors, or have an emergency Cesarean.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Erb's palsy are a lack of movement in the affected arm or hand and a weak grip. Symptoms typically appear about six to twelve months following birth.
The brachialplexus is a set of nerves which run from the spine along both sides of the neck. They control movements and sensations in the hand, arm and fingers. If they become damaged, the nerves can cause weakness or partial paralysis in the affected hand and arm.
It is often caused by medical errors during childbirth. For example, a doctor pulling on the baby's shoulder too much (shoulder dystocia). It can also be caused by a traumatic delivery when the infant is held in a 'waiter's tips' position, which causes strain on the C5-C6 nerves in the upper trunk that are part of the brachial plexus.
The majority of infants who suffer from an injury to their stretch will recover in six to 12 months. However, some cases are so severe that they require surgical intervention to repair the nerves damaged. If the damaged nerves are not treated, the child could suffer an indefinite disability that affects 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, however the injury can never be fully repaired. A few infants suffer from significant disability, and are unable move their hand, arm or fingers.
The symptoms are caused by an injury to the brachial plexus, which is the main muscle of the upper limb except for the trapezius. The injury typically affects the upper nerves C5 and C6 but less often affects C7. This causes the classic Erb's palsy sign, a waiter tip-like hand which is unable to pronate nor flex the forearm. In some cases the nerves that are injured can cause Horner's syndrome, which is a drooping of the pupil and a constricted chin.
It is possible to file an action for medical negligence at the time of a birth that leads to the child being diagnosed with Erb's Palsy. This is because the condition can be caused by excessive force applied to the baby during birth. This can include using forceps or ventouse (vacuum extraction) in a way that is not correct. This can include a doctor who fails to manage shoulder dystocia correctly or decides to do vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean birth would be more suitable.
Treatment

The nerves that make up the brachial nerve control movement and feeling in the hand and arm. If you find a baby with Erb's Palsy, it means the nerves have been damaged. Most babies recover in 6 to 12 months however some suffer from a permanent disability affecting the movement and sensation of their arm.
Physical therapy is a method to improve the range of motion. Passive exercises and stretching can be used to accomplish this. A physiotherapist could also recommend an extension splint to help with movement and prevent stiffness. Surgical intervention is often required in extreme cases to reconstruct damaged nerves through the nerve graft.
A claim for compensation may help a child with an Erb's Palsy injury live life to the fullest, and access essential equipment, education, and assistance. If you believe that your child's condition was caused by an unintentional medical error at birth, you may be eligible to file an Erb's Palsy claim for monetary damages.
Compensation
A successful lawsuit can provide families with financial compensation to treat their child. It could also give them satisfaction and call attention to medical professionals who might have prevented a brachial nerve injury.
Settlements for lawsuits involving Erb's palsy can pay for physiotherapy as well as other equipment or treatments needed to aid your child's needs. You could also be compensated for any loss of income or earnings due to the disability of your child.
If your child has been diagnosed with erb's palsy, and you suspect that medical negligence was the cause in the diagnosis, it is crucial to reach out to an experienced lawyer for Erb's palsy immediately. They can guide you on the best approach to take and ensure all necessary documents are filed before any deadlines run out. This will give you the greatest chance of success in getting compensation. Our team of specialized Erb's palsy lawyers will help you claim the highest amount of compensation that you are entitled to. This can help you with the long-term expenses of your child's handicap and ensure that they have everything they require to lead a happy, healthy life.