Despite the training, qualifications, knowledge, and experience of delivery room doctors and caregivers, inadvertent harm or injury to a fragile newborn can cause serious nerve damage, physical trauma, or even paralysis.
Erb’s palsy is a disability that develops when the nerves that control movement and sensation in the arm sustain damage. These nerves are called the brachial plexus—brachial pertains to the arm, and plexus pertains to a network. A brachial plexus injury can occur during or soon after delivery, leading to Erb’s palsy—palsy means paralysis. Miramar families are encouraged to call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529 for assistance with their child’s Erb’s palsy case.
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Understanding Erb’s Palsy
Roughly two out of every 1,000 babies born in the United States suffer from Erb’s palsy, a condition that is usually caused by birth injuries. The cause of birth-related nerve injuries usually occurs when a baby’s neck, head, or shoulders are stretched too far to one side or the other during delivery, often during an emergency or complicated birth. When this happens, the baby may be forced into a compromised position by a doctor or another member of a delivery team to expedite delivery.
The symptoms and effects of Erb’s palsy vary from person to person based on the severity, location, and extent of the injuries sustained. Some patients may recover from their injuries within months, while others may require regular treatment, such as therapy or medication. Some cases may even require surgery, all depending on where and how the injury in question took place and how severe or mild it is.
To determine the extent and potential implications of your child’s Erb’s palsy case, you should discuss your child’s health with his or her obstetrician. The sooner you initiate the recommended methods of treatment, the better. This will give your child’s nerves the time they need to heal and hopefully recover over time. Delays are known to lead to nerve damage that does not recover.
In addition to initiating treatment, you should speak to a Miramar Erb’s palsy lawyer. Treatment costs can quickly add up, and you may soon find yourself faced with substantial medical bills. This is highly unfair if the injuries that your child suffers from and for which you are forced to pay were the result of the negligence of your child’s delivery team.
Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529 for a free case evaluation. We will help you understand your legal options and what you should do to overcome the trauma and challenges posed by an Erb’s palsy diagnosis. We will walk you through everything you need to know about Erb’s palsy, including what costs to expect and how to file a claim for compensation.
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Treating Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy treatments are prescribed based on the extent and severity of the nerve damage that your child suffered. Your child’s doctor will take into account the different types of care available in your area, whether or not you have insurance coverage for those treatments, and how well your child responds to different types of care.
Common treatments for Erb’s palsy include therapy and surgery.
Therapy
Several types of therapy can help your child. Physical therapy is used to heal and rebuild stretched or damaged nerves. Occupational therapy can be used to help teach the patient certain skills and improve coordination. Hydrotherapy uses a low gravity environment to reduce the stress and pressure on the patient’s limbs to help him or her rebuild strength and flexibility.
Surgery
Severe cases of Erb’s palsy in which nerves are torn or detached from the spine usually require surgery. Patients who do not show any functional recovery using the various forms of therapy outlined above may also require surgery.
Having said that, because it is invasive—as well as expensive—surgery is usually the treatment of last resort for Erb’s palsy and is only used when the patient suffers from split or torn nerves. Surgical treatments that can help a patient recover from a brachial plexus injury include nerve grafts, nerve transfers, and decompression procedures.
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How a Miramar Erb’s Palsy Lawyer Could Help in Your Birth Injury Case
The recovery timeline for Erb’s palsy can be a few months for mild cases to a lifetime of slow and steady progress based on the severity of the injuries in question. The thrill of parents who are set to welcome a new child to the world can quickly turn into anxiety and apprehension if the mother needs to undergo an emergency delivery. The situation can go from bad to worse if your child sustains a birth injury in the process.
When birth injuries occur, especially those that have long-term effects, it is natural to wonder about what would happen if treatments were unavailable, how available treatments are to be paid for, and who should be held responsible for the issues or complications that caused the birth injury in the first place.
If your child received a diagnosis of Erb’s palsy or suffered a birth injury, you are not alone. Our Miramar Erb’s palsy lawyers have assisted many families facing the same circumstances and can help you with all of the following:
- Determining the extent and location of your child’s injuries
- Obtaining additional evidence to determine whether or not medical negligence played a role in causing your child’s injuries
- Obtaining a statement from a medical professional that negligence caused your child’s injuries, which is a legal requirement in many states before you can issue a letter of intent to sue and file a malpractice claim
- Interviewing hospital staff members and doctors who cared for the mother or her child
- Developing a recovery plan for your child and helping you get your life back on track
According to the latest research, birth-related nerve injuries only recover when the right treatments are used, which is usually four weeks after birth. You must get things started as soon as possible, so call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529 and let us manage your case on your behalf.
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