There are many ways that birth injuries can occur. Known causes of birth injuries include natural factors that are beyond the control of the delivery team such as genetic issues, preventable issues such as the misuse of medical devices, and other issues that could have been preventable had certain measures been taken but were not. Not performing an important test and missing signs of fetal distress is an example of this.
Mistakes, errors, and issues such as these can lead to a variety of health issues for the newborn. One of these issues is Erb’s palsy. Erb’s palsy is not a disease or a sickness. It is the name given to a set of neuromuscular disorders that develop if the nerves that control the shoulders and arms are damaged in specific ways. If your child seems to have issues with using his or her arms in any way or if he or she suffered a birth injury or was delivered in a complicated birth, call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529 for assistance.
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How Erb’s Palsy Occurs
Erb’s palsy occurs when the brachial plexus, an important nerve bundle in the neck, is damaged in some way. Stretching, twisting, pinching, tearing, or detachment of these nerves from the spinal cord are all ways that damage leading to Erb’s palsy can be sustained. Consider the following birth scenarios that can cause these types of injuries.
- When the head or neck is pushed or pulled beyond a certain extent one way or the other when the baby makes its way through the mother.
- Breech deliveries wherein the baby is not delivered head-first. In these types of births, the baby’s arms or legs may be raised, pushed, or twisted, or pulled, leading to various forms of nerve damage in different parts of the body.
- Shoulder dystocia, which is when the head exits the mother’s body even though the rest of the baby’s body is still stuck inside the mother.
- Any unnatural stretching of the interval between the head and the shoulders of the baby can lead to nerve damage.
Risk factors that can raise a baby’s exposure to these types of issues are as below.
- Gestational diabetes can cause babies to grow very large during gestation. These types of babies can more easily become stuck inside the mother or may get squeezed inside the womb.
- C-section deliveries put a baby at a heightened risk of birth injuries.
- Delivery team experience–or the lack thereof–can lead to or aggravate a brachial plexus
- Petite mothers: Petite mothers delivering large babies are cases in which brachial plexus injuries can occur.
Doctors, nurses, and delivery staff must take all required steps in the event of a problematic delivery to save the mother and her child from injuries of any sort. If they are unable to do so, do so incorrectly, or neglect doing so for whatever reason, they may be held liable for the child’s injuries and any financial and physical damages that arise therefrom.
Identifying Erb’s palsy is not difficult and it can sometimes be diagnosed as soon as a baby is born. It can lead to issues with using one arm, delayed physical development of the arm, awkward bending of the arm at the elbow, and limited sensation or ability to move the hand or wrist in certain ways. These are symptoms that should be investigated so that you can initiate the right treatments right away to avoid having an otherwise innocuous nerve damage case become permanent.
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Available Treatments
The severity and extent of your child’s nerve damage will determine the types of treatment or therapy that are best suited to helping your child overcome his or her health issues. For example, surgical procedures are usually required to repair torn, ruptured, or avulsed nerves. These are serious forms of nerve damage. Mild or moderate forms of nerve injury can sometimes be fixed using basic physical and occupational therapy, exercise, medications, and other noninvasive forms of rehabilitation.
All things considered, the availability of treatments is a good thing, but nothing comes for free, and these treatments can be expensive. You should not have to pay for the care and treatment of injuries that were caused by the negligence or unprofessional care of someone else. You have the right to seek damages for injuries that should not have suffered, especially against healthcare professionals who are entrusted with the care of the most vulnerable people in society.
You should seek financial repayment for the costs that your child’s Erb’s palsy causes you to suffer, including:
- Doctor’s visits
- Medication costs
- Assistive device costs
- Therapy and surgery costs
- Travel to and from procedures or therapy sessions
- Lost income
- Loss of quality of life
The costs of treatment and rehab can grow quickly and add up to a significant amount. Contact the Birth Injury Lawyers Group to discuss your rights and responsibilities and to learn more about the important steps you must take if you are to secure a compensation payout or a settlement from the at-fault party or parties responsible for your child’s injuries.
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Nerve damage, paralysis, bone growth issues, and the mental stigma of a health disorder are all serious issues. Erb’s palsy is a common disorder and should not be taken lightly. Delays in treating it can make it that much more difficult for the affected individual to recover. It can also add to your physical, financial, and emotional turmoil during this stressful time.
We charge no upfront fees for our services. We also work on a contingency-fee-basis and only receive legal service fees after you receive a payout for your child’s birth injury case. Call us today for a free and no-obligation case evaluation in which we discuss everything you need to know about malpractice claims and negligence laws. This includes a discussion on the merits and potential weaknesses of your case, liable parties you may be able to sue, and what steps to take to formally lodge a claim. Call us now at (800) 222-9529.
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