Hudgell Solicitors Can Help You Make an Erb’s Palsy Claim
Erb’s palsy is caused by nerve damage in the shoulder, arm and hand. This can lead to paralysis, as well as other problems.
This birth injury can be the result of medical negligence. It is often linked to an uneasy or rush delivery particularly when the baby’s shoulders get stuck during labor.
Causes
Pregnancies and births generally are normal, but, on rare occasions something can go wrong. Hudgell Solicitors will help you in the event that your child suffers an impairment that was caused by medical malpractice like Erb’s palsy.
Erb’s Palsy is a weakness of various degrees or paralysis of the shoulder and arms, affecting the brachial nerves. These nerves send electrical messages to muscles, allowing them to move. Injury to the brachial plexus can result in an inability to grasp and move the hand affected.
There are many causes of Erb’s palsy. It is often caused by shoulder dystocia, a complication of labour that happens when the baby’s head is stuck above the mother’s pubic bone. It is more common in women who have certain risk factors like gestational diabetes, infants who are large. Shoulder dystocia could be an emergency medical condition. It is essential for doctors to be aware of this and be aware of what to do to prevent complications. It could also occur by forceps or vacuum extractors or emergency Cesarean.
Symptoms
Erb’s palsy symptoms include a lack of motion in the affected hand or arm and a weak grip strength. Typically, symptoms manifest within six to 12 months after the birth.
The brachial plexus is a system of nerves that run from the spine and down both sides of the neck, managing motion and sensation in the hand, arm and fingers. If damaged, these nerves can lead to weakness or partial paralysis of the affected arm and hand.
It is often the result of medical errors during childbirth. For example, a doctor pulling on the baby’s shoulder too much (shoulder dystocia). It could also occur when the baby is placed in the ‘waiter tip’ position during delivery that puts stress on the upper trunk C5-C6 nervous system, which is part of the Brachial Plexus.
Most infants who sustain an injury from a stretch recover within six to 12 months however, there are some cases that are severe enough to require surgery using a nerve graft to restore the injured nerves. If the nerves that are damaged are not repaired and rehabilitated, a child could suffer a permanent disability that affects their ability to move their arm.
Diagnosis
There are many treatments for children suffering from Erb’s Palsy however, the injury cannot be fully repaired. Some infants suffer from a significant impairment and are unable to move their hands, arms or fingers.
The symptoms are caused by an injury to the brachial plexus which innervates all the muscles of the upper limb except for the trapezius. The most common injury is to the upper branches of nerves C5 or C6. Infrequently is it also affecting C7. This is the most common Erb’s Palsy sign, a waiter’s tip type hand that is unable pronate or flex the forearm. In some cases, the nerves that are damaged can cause Horner syndrome. It is manifested by an elongated pupil and tightened face.
It is possible to bring an action for medical negligence at the time of the birth of a child suffering from Erb’s Palsy. This is because the condition is usually caused by the excessive force that is imposed on the baby during the delivery process. This includes using the vacuum extraction (ventouse) or forceps improperly. This can include a doctor who isn’t able to control shoulder dystocia correctly, or decides to have an breech or vaginal birth when a caesarean section would have been more appropriate.
Treatment
The nerves that make up the brachial system control movements and sensations in the arm and hand. If a baby is identified as having Erb’s palsy, it indicates that the nerves have been injured. The majority of babies recover within 6 to 12 months, but some have a permanent disability that limits movement and sensation in their arm.
Treatment is focused on physical therapy, which is designed to improve the range of motion in the injured arm. Stretching and passive exercises are a great way to achieve this. A physiotherapist can also suggest an extension splint to help with movement and prevent stiffness. In the case of severe cases, a nerve transplant could be required to repair damaged nerves.
A claim for compensation could help a child suffering from an Erb’s Palsy injury live their life to the fullest extent and access essential equipment, treatment, and assistance. If you believe that your child’s Palsy was the result of an error in medical care during their birth, you may be able to file a claim for financial damages.
Compensation
A successful lawsuit may be able to award families financial compensation in exchange for the treatment of their child. It can also give them an understanding of justice and bring attention to medical professionals that could have prevented a brachial-plexus injury.
Settlements from the Erb’s Palsy lawsuits can assist in covering the costs of physiotherapy for your child and other treatments and equipment needed to treat their condition. You could also receive compensation for any loss of income or earnings due to the disability of your child.