You have legal options if your child developed Erb’s palsy – also called Erb-Duchenne palsy – due to the actions of medical professionals during childbirth. A doctor or nurse could cause your child a brachial plexus injury that led to Erb’s palsy in McAllen. In this situation, you could be able to receive compensation for your child’s medical care.
Take steps to secure compensation for your family’s expenses by contacting a McAllen Erb’s palsy lawyer for help right now. You may begin working on your case by calling (800) 222-9529 to speak with a member of the team at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group.
Causes of Erb’s Palsy in Childbirth
Erb’s palsy is a direct result of a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus refers to a group of nerves in the upper back that controls feeling and movement for a person’s arms. If the brachial plexus is damaged, your child may be unable to move one shoulder, arm, or hand.
Brachial plexus injuries may occur in childbirth if your child’s shoulder or arm is not handled correctly. For example, sometimes doctors may pull on a child’s shoulder improperly, especially during a breech (feet-first) birth.
Larger birthweight babies may be at a higher risk for experiencing a brachial plexus injury during the birthing process. Doctors may cause these injuries if they pull a child’s head to one side during childbirth or if they apply too much pressure when attempting to complete a difficult birth.
In some cases, doctors should order a C-section due to the risky nature of a birth. A properly ordered C-section may reduce the odds of your child developing Erb’s palsy. Doctors who fail to order this procedure properly could be committing an act of medical malpractice.
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Examples of Brachial Plexus Injuries in McAllen
There are four primary types of brachial plexus injuries that your child could sustain in McAllen. Each of these injuries could result in Erb’s palsy. These injuries include:
Neuropraxia
Neuropraxia occurs most often out of all the brachial plexus injuries. This injury occurs if the brachial nerves are stretched. This stretching causes damage but it does not tear the nerve tissue.
Neuroma
Neuroma occurs if the brachial nerve tears and then heals. However, this condition may be complicated by the scar tissue formed when the nerve heals. This tissue may prevent the nerves from transmitting signals properly.
Rupture
In a rupture, the brachial plexus nerves may tear, but this tear does not occur directly at the place where the nerves attach to the spine.
Avulsion
The brachial nerves also tear during an avulsion. However, in this case they tear away from the spinal attachment. An avulsion represents the most serious type of brachial nexus injury your child could sustain in McAllen.
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Steps to Diagnosis Erb’s Palsy in McAllen
You may be wondering how you can determine if your child has Erb’s palsy in McAllen. Generally, this condition may be noticeable quickly. Your child may have one arm that is limp or that they cannot move at all. In some cases, their elbow may be bent and they may be unable to move it.
However, you may not be able to accurately diagnose Erb’s palsy on your own. In order to get treatment for your child and compensation for your family’s expenses, you need the diagnosis of a medical professional.
If you suspect that your child has a brachial plexus injury in McAllen, make sure that you visit a healthcare professional right away. A doctor may perform a number of assessments to confirm your child’s condition and may then be able to provide you with a treatment plan to help your child recover.
After you have received a diagnosis for a brachial plexus injury, you may want to contact a McAllen Erb’s palsy lawyer for help right away. Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529.
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Options to Treat Erb’s Palsy in Texas
You should be aware that, in many cases, Erb’s palsy may be treated so your child may recover. A study published in the journal Paediatrics & Child Health found that 80% to 96 % of children with Erb’s palsy recover from the condition.
In some cases, children recover from Erb’s palsy without any treatment. However, this is not always the case. In some situations, your child may require:
- Surgery
- Physical therapy
Generally, neuropraxia injuries heal on their own, leaving an individual with 90% to 100% of their normal functionality. However, rupture and avulsion injuries generally require surgery in order to allow a child to recover. Additionally, surgical procedures must be performed quickly in order for your child to have the best chance of regaining normal usage of their arm. For this reason, it’s very important that you seek medical care right away.
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Building an Erb’s Palsy Claim in McAllen
Surgical procedures and physical therapy may become very expensive in McAllen. However, your family may be eligible to receive compensation for these medical costs in some cases involving a brachial plexus injury.
In order to get compensation for your child’s medical care, a lawyer has to show that a medical professional took an action that directly led to the brachial plexus injury. Your lawyer may review your medical records from the hospital as well as your child’s diagnosis for Erb’s palsy.
Once your lawyer has reviewed your case, they may begin negotiations with insurance agents on your behalf. Many medical professionals or healthcare facilities are prepared to settle cases involving medical malpractice, even when they involve birth injuries such as a brachial plexus injury.
You may be able to get a settlement that covers all of your losses by working with an Erb’s palsy lawyer in McAllen. Your lawyer may also step in to provide you with legal assistance if your claim goes to court here in Texas.
Talk to a McAllen Erb’s Palsy Lawyer Immediately
Take charge if your child is diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury in McAllen. Start building a claim right now with a McAllen Erb’s palsy lawyer from the team at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group. We are standing by to take your call now, just call (800) 222-9529 or fill out our online contact form.
Allow us to review your case right now with a legal consultation. We may be able to offer you the legal guidance you want here in McAllen.
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