7 Things You've Never Learned About Erb's Palsy Case
Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an Erb's Palsy Claim
Erb's palsy is caused by damage to the nerve network in the shoulder, arm and hand. This can cause paralysis and other problems.
Medical negligence can result in this birth injury. The birth injury is usually caused by a difficult or rushed delivery.
Causes
In rare cases, things can happen to go wrong. erb's palsy attorney st george can help should your child suffer from a disability that was caused by medical negligence, such as Erb’s palsy.
Erb's palsy can be described as a weakness or paralysis of varying degrees in the arm and shoulder, affecting the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves transmit electrical messages to the muscles to allow them to move. Injuries to the brachial nerve can cause an inability to grip and move the affected hand.
There are several causes of Erb's Palsy. It could be caused by shoulder dystocia which is a complication of labour that occurs when the baby's head gets stuck above the pubic bone of the mother's. It is more frequent with certain risk factors, like gestational diabetes, and an infant or child who is large. Shoulder dystocia could be an emergency medical situation. It is important for doctors to recognize this and know what to do to prevent complications. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or a vacuum extractor during labour or by having an emergency Cesarean section.
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of Erb's Palsy include a lack in movement in the affected arm or hand and a weak grip strength. Usually, the symptoms appear in the six to 12 months after birth.
The brachialplexus is a nerve network that extends from the spine to both sides of the neck. It regulates motion and sensation of the fingers, arms and hand. If they become damaged, the nerves could cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and hand.
It's usually caused by a medical error during childbirth, for example an unintentional pull by a doctor to release a baby's head (shoulder dystocia). It can be caused by a painful delivery when the infant is held in a 'waiter's tip' position, which causes strain on the upper trunk C5-C6 nerves that form part of the brachial system.
The majority of infants who suffer from a stretch injury will recover in six to 12 months. However certain cases are so severe that they require surgical intervention to repair the nerves damaged. If the nerves damaged are not treated the child may suffer permanent impairment that hinders their ability to move their arm.
Diagnosis
For children who suffer from Erb's Palsy there are a variety of treatments to lessen the effects, however the injury is not able to be completely repaired. A few infants suffer from significant disability and are unable move their hand, arm or fingers.
The symptoms are caused by a trauma to the brachial plexus which innervates all the muscles of the upper limb, with the exception for the trapezius. The injury is usually affecting the upper nerves C5 as well as C6 but less frequently affects C7. This results in the classical Erb's palsy sign which is a type of waiter's hand that is unable to pronate or extend the forearm. In some cases, the nerves are injured and cause Horner's syndrome, a pupils that are drooping, and a constricted chin.
You may be able to claim medical negligence in the event that your child suffers from Erb's Palsy due to the birth. This is due to the fact that this condition is often caused by the excessive force that is imposed on the baby during the birth process. This can be caused by using forceps or a ventouse (vacuum extraction) in a way that is not correct. This could include a doctor who fails to control shoulder dystocia correctly, or decides to do a vaginal or breech birth when a caesarean section would be more suitable.
Treatment
The brachialplexus' nerves control movement and sensation in the hands and arms. If an infant is diagnosed with Erb's spalsy, this means the nerves have been damaged. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months but some suffer from an ongoing disability that affects movement and feeling in their arm.
Treatment is focused on physical therapy which aims to improve the range of motion in the injured arm. Stretching and exercises for passive exercise can be utilized to achieve this. A physiotherapist might also suggest an extension splint specifically designed to assist with flexibility and prevent stiffness. In extreme cases, a nerve transplant could be required to repair damaged nerves.
A claim for compensation may assist a child suffering an Erb's Palsy injury live their life to the fullest, and access essential equipment, care, education and support. If you believe that your child's Erb's Palsy was the result of an error in medical care during their birth, you might be able make a claim for monetary damages.
Compensation
A successful lawsuit could award families financial compensation to treat their child. It can also give them a sense justice and bring attention to medical professionals that could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.
Erb's palsy lawsuit settlements can assist in covering the costs of physiotherapy for your child as well as other equipment and treatments to support their condition. They may also reimburse you for any loss of earnings or income because of your child's disability.
You should contact an Erb's Palsy lawyer as soon as you suspect that medical negligence was involved. They can assist you in the most effective way to proceed and ensure all necessary paperwork is filed before any deadlines run out. This will ensure you have the best chance of getting compensation. Our team of expert erb's palsy lawyers can help you get the maximum amount of compensation you're entitled to. This will help pay for the long-term costs of your child's disability and ensure that they are provided with everything they need to live a happy life.