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. It can lead to paralysis as well as a variety of other issues.
Medical negligence can lead to this birth injury. It can result in an uneasy or rush delivery and, in particular, when the baby's shoulders get stuck during labour.
Causes
On rare occasions things can be a mess. If your child was born with a disability that was caused by medical negligence, for instance 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 of varying degrees in the shoulder and arm affected by the brachial nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to muscles, allowing them to move. Injuries to the brachialplexus could cause a loss of ability to move and grip the hand that is affected.
There are many causes of Erb's palsy. It can be caused by shoulder dystocia, a complication of labour that occurs when the baby's head becomes stuck above the mother's pubic bone. It is more prevalent in women with certain risk factors, such as gestational diabetics, as well as large babies or infants. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency and it is important that doctors recognise this and know how to react quickly to avoid complications for the baby. It can also be caused by the use of forceps or an extractor vacuum during labour or even by having an emergency Cesarean section.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Erb's palsy include a lack in movement in the affected hand or arm and a weak grip strength. Symptoms usually appear about six to twelve months following the birth.
The brachialplexus is a nerve network which runs from the spine to both sides of the neck. It regulates movement and sensation of the fingers, arms and hand. When these nerves are damaged, they could cause weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and/or hand.
It is often the result of medical mistakes during childbirth. For instance the doctor pushing on the baby's shoulders too hard (shoulder dystocia). It could result from a traumatizing delivery when the infant is placed in a 'waiter's tips position, which causes strain on the C5-C6 upper trunk nerves that form part of the brachial plexus.
The majority of infants who suffer from an injury from a stretch will recover in six to 12 months. However, some cases are so severe that they require surgery to repair the nerves damaged. If the damaged nerves are not repaired, a child may have a permanent disability affecting their ability to move and use their arm.
Diagnosis
There are a variety of treatment options for children suffering from Erb's Palsy, but the injury is not fully healed. Some children are left with a significant impairment and cannot move their arm, hand or fingers.
The symptoms result from injury to the brachial nerve plexus that innervates all the muscles of the upper limb, with the exception for the trapezius. The injury is usually to the upper trunks of nerves C5 or C6. However is it also affecting C7. This results in the classical sign of Erb's palsy the waiter's tip hand which cannot pronate or bend the forearm. In some instances, injured nerves also cause Horner's disease, a pupil that droops and a chin that is constricted.
You can claim medical negligence when your child is suffering 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 a ventouse (vacuum extraction) incorrectly. It could also be doctors not managing shoulder dystocia appropriately or deciding to do vaginal birth or breech when a caesarean section earlier would be more suitable.
Treatment
The nerves of the brachial system control movement and feel in the hand and arm. If a baby's diagnosis is with Erb's Palsy it signifies that the nerves are damaged. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, but there are some who suffer from a permanent impairment that limits movement and sensation in their arm.
The treatment is centered around physical therapy which aims to improve the range of motion in the injured arm. It can be done in many ways, including passive exercises and stretching. A physiotherapist can also suggest an extension splint that will assist in movement and help prevent stiffness. Surgery may be required in severe cases to reconstruct damaged nerves through the use of a nerve graft.
A compensation claim can help a child suffering from Erb's Palsy live life to the maximum, and gain access to the essential equipment education, medical care, and other. If erb's palsy lawsuit connecticut believe that your child's Palsy was caused by an error in medical treatment at the time of their birth, you could be able to file a claim for financial damages.
Compensation
A successful lawsuit can grant families financial compensation to help fund their child's medical treatment. It could also give them a sense of justice and bring attention to medical professionals who might have prevented a brachial plexus injury.
Settlements in the Erb's palsy lawsuit will help pay for the costs of physiotherapy sessions for your child in addition to other equipment and treatments needed to help their condition. You could also receive compensation for any lost income or earnings resulting from the disability of your child.
If your child has been diagnosed with Erb's palsy, and you suspect that medical negligence may have played a part in this, it is imperative to speak with an experienced lawyer for Erb's Palsy as soon as you can. They can offer advice on how to proceed and make sure that all paperwork is filed on time. This increases the chances of obtaining compensation. Our team of experts from Erb's-Palsy will assist you in getting the most compensation to which you are entitled. This can help with the long-term costs associated with your child's handicap and ensure that they have everything they need to live a full, happy and healthy life.