Erbs Palsy

Erb’s Palsy is a specific kind of brachial plexus palsy which causes weakness or loss of motion in the arm. It is usually the result of a difficult delivery, with possible negligence and as many as two newborns out of a thousand have this condition. The Brachial plexus is a group of five nerves located at the base of the neck which lead into the arm. During delivery if the baby’s neck is stretched in one direction for too long, there is nerve damage that leads to a loss of motion and feeling in the arm. A complete brachial plexus palsy results when injury affects all five brachial nerves, leading to complete paralysis in the arm.  There might also be an incidence of what is known as the Horner’s Syndrome or the lazy eye condition. Klumpke’s Palsy, another kind of Erb’s Palsy leads to a weakness of the wrist and hand muscles.  This is almost always a result of negligence of the doctor involved in the delivery.

If your child has suffered from Erb’s palsy you might have a case for filing a lawsuit against the doctor or the hospital involved in the delivery. However time is of the essence since there may be specific statutes of limitation in your case. For example in the New York state the statute of limitations is two and a half years from the date of knowledge of negligence. A child or his parents can – under law- become aware of the existence of such negligence up to the age of ten years and therefore, one can safely deduce that a lawsuit can be filed up to twelve and a half years of age. It varies from state to state and the limitation rules may vary also depending on whether the hospital is a private or municipal. It is important to remember that the burden of proof is on the plaintiff (i.e. the person who files the suit) to prove the date of knowledge.

An Erb’s palsy lawsuit falls under the category of medical malpractice lawsuits and for this particular condition there are specialized tort lawyers. An Erb’s Palsy law firm may usually provide a free consultation on whether you have a case or not. There would be certain medical tests that need to be undertaken. These would include electromyography or a nerve condition study.  The doctors may also order MRIs or CT scans to further determine the extent of damage to the nerves. Having determined that you have a case, a tort lawyer typically enters into a contingency agreement with you, where you would be required to pay a certain percentage of the compensation as attorney’s fees. Many a times, the attorneys’ fees are included in the final compensation.

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FAQs

Q:What factors need to be considered when filing an erbs palsy lawsuit?

A:Erb's palsy is a medical term that describes nerve damage caused during delivery of a baby. Erb's palsy falls into the category of birth injury law. If your baby is suffering from Erb's palsy, filing a lawsuit can help you seek rights to compensation that can help you pay for medical bills and other related expenses. There are several factors you need to consider when filing a lawsuit. These include providing proof that the medical condition directly stemmed from negligence on part of the medical practitioner, forceful of inappropriate delivery techniques were used, and a doctor-patient relationship existed at the time of birth.

Q:Can an Erb's palsy lawyer help me win a case against the hospital?

A:There is no lawyer that can guarantee you a certain result in a case but if you feel that the injuries suffered by your child are the result of negligence on the part of the care provider, you should definitely consult a lawyer. A lawyer will analyze the merits of your case and will give you advice accordingly on what course of action to adopt.

Q:What is brachial plexus erbs palsy?

A:Erb's palsy can be defined as paralysis condition which causes immobility of upper arms. The nerves that control arm are known as brachial plexus. One these nerves become damaged or weak, one loses the ability to control arm movement and hand movement. This condition is found in many newborns. On the other hand, it can also be caused by an injury.

Q:What are the various causes of Erb's Palsy? I want to determine whether this arises as a natural complication or whether there is any medical malpractice at play.

A:Erb's Palsy is a partial paralysis of either arm due to damage done to the nerves that enter through the shoulder, typically occurring at the time of birth. However, the chances are that this complication was a result of a case of medical malpractice involving the doctor or medical staff on duty using excessive force in pulling out the baby at the time of birth, especially when the baby's shoulder might have been lodged against the mother's pelvic bone.

Q:When is erb palsy the result of medical malpractice or negligence on part of the doctor or the hospital?

A:Erb Palsy or Erb's Palsy may be the result of your doctor's negligence if the doctor failed to advise a cesarean section operation where the baby was too big for the birth canal or if the doctor was negligent at the time of a difficult delivery. Specific kinds of Erb's Palsy like the Klumpke's Palsy are almost always the result of the doctor's negligence.

Q:What are some of the erb palsy symptoms one should be on the lookout for?

A:Weakness or motionlessness in the child's arms, hands or writs are usually the clearest Erb Palsy symptoms. Drooping eye lids in Klumpke's Palsy are also seen as symptoms of this birth defect. If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, contact a doctor immediately for more information and an accurate diagnosis.

Q:What is Erb Palsy treatment and is it effective?

A:Erb Palsy treatment varies from case to case. For simple stretch injury, Erb's Palsy can heal on its own with time. However for more serious forms, there may be extensive treatment, from physiotherapy to surgery, required. If your child's Erb's Palsy is caused by negligence, it may be worth your while to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor or hospital responsible.

Q:Can Erb's Palsy be caused by a doctor's negligence and if yes how?

A:Erb's Palsy can be caused by a doctor's negligence. This usually happens when the doctor fails to account for baby's size in relation to the birth canal. A heavier, bigger baby would necessarily result in a difficult delivery. The failure to advise cesarean section will be one kind of negligence. Lack of proper precautions and care during delivery can also lead to stretching of the baby's neck leading to brachial plexus palsy.

Q:Is Erbs Palsy the same as Cerebral Palsy?

A:Palsy means weakness. Cerebral Palsy refers to weakness of the head and the brain. Erbs Palsy on the contrary is the weakness caused by the effect of a difficult delivery on the brachial plexus in the baby's body. The brachial plexus gives rise to nerves leading to arms and hands. Erbs Palsy can range from mild to very severe. Contact your family physician if you think your child has Erbs Palsy.

Q:My child has been diagnosed with Erbs Palsy. Where can I find an Erbs Palsy attorney and how does one tell if an Erbs Palsy attorney is competent or not?

A:An Erbs Palsy attorney is usually a medical malpractice attorney specializing in lawsuits arising out of Erb's Palsy cases. Many Erbs Palsy attorneys advertise their services through the web and other electronic media. A competent Erbs Palsy attorney will have experience of medical malpractice lawsuits. To tell if a lawyer is competent or not, you may wish to inquire about his track record in jury trials.

Q:Are erb's palsy attorneys specialized in dealing with such cases or do they take them up as filler cases?

A:Erb's palsy is a serious and common complication that unfortunately happens in quite a number of cases. Though there are times that this condition arises due to some unavoidable or natural consequence, but more often than not, it is due to the negligence of the doctor or the medical staff involved in the delivery process. The attorneys that deal with Erb's palsy lawsuits have usually had considerable experience in dealing with such cases and getting the warranted settlement.

Q:Can you give me some information about erbs palsy causes?

A:Erbs palsy is caused by injury to the nerves that control movement of the muscles. This injury usually occurs in newborns as a result of excessive force applied during birth. Sometimes a baby's shoulders get trapped near the pelvic bone of the mother; a doctor may then have to use forceps to dislodge the baby, resulting in damage to the nerve area.

Q:How is the Erb's palsy definition related to my baby's birth defects?

A:By definition, Erb's palsy occurs at the time of birth when there is some hindrance or complication in the birth canal of the mother. There is great difficulty for the baby to be born naturally and the use of assisted means of delivery are often employed such as forceps and vacuum pump. Such measures result in the baby getting more lodged against the pelvic bone of its mother, whereby causing damage to the nerves entering through the shoulder.

Q:What information can you give me regarding erbs palsy diagnosis?

A:Erbs palsy is a medical condition in which nerves become damaged, causing immobility of limbs. This injury usually occurs during the time of birth, when forceps are used to help a baby out of the birth canal. Many parents have filed lawsuits against practitioners for using inappropriate methods during delivery that ultimately led to erbs palsy in their newborns.

Q:Can you give me information on Erb's palsy medicine or the treatment for this condition?

A:Erb's palsy is an injury to the shoulder nerves at the time of birth that can restrict the arm movement of the baby. The treatment generally involves physical therapy. If the damage to nerve is extensive then a surgery may be required. The damage is rarely a permanent one. It is best to get help from a healthcare professional and follow the treatment plan given by an expert.

Q:Can you tell me about Erb's palsy exercises that are recommended?

A:As Erb's palsy results in weakness of the arm or restricted arm movement, Erb's palsy exercises are focused to strengthen these muscles. It includes gentle massage, stretching, range of motion exercises that keep the muscles and the joints moving naturally. These exercises must be performed consistently and can be managed by an actively involved parent or a professional until the child regains complete mobility of the arm.

Q:Is there a specific Erb's palsy group of nerves that are prone to damage?

A:Firstly there is no such group of nerves that are characterized as being related to Erb's Palsy. There is an upper group of around five nerves that enter either arm through the shoulder and are called the brachial plexus. It is when these nerves sustain some injury, especially when the child is being born, is when Erb's Palsy occurs.

Q:Can Erb's palsy in adults occur or is the complication in the case of just children?

A:Erb's Palsy is a birth defect and hence typically occurs in babies during the delivery process when their shoulder, either left or right gets lodged against the pelvic bone of the mother, whereby causing nerve damage in the bunch of nerves entering the shoulder from the spinal cortex. Hence, though Erb's Palsy cannot directly occur in adults, those that have contracted it at the time of birth and were not treated, suffer from it throughout their adult life.

Q:Are erbs palsy lawyers easy to find?

A:Erbs palsy lawyers are specialized legal experts who handle all kinds of erbs cases. Many law firms provide the services of erbs palsy lawyers. You can easily find specialized lawyers in your locality. If you are looking for detailed knowledge in this field, conducting an online search can be quite useful.

Q:How can Erb's palsy physiotherapy rehabilitate a victim of this birth defect?

A:In order to determine the best possible treatment for a victim of Erb's palsy, there are a range of assessments that are carried out. The physiotherapy for an Erb's palsy patient typically entails exercises such as those for improving muscle movement and coordination, creating awareness for the arm itself as well as reducing the pain that arises when movement is restored little by little.

Q:Do Erb's Palsy pictures give some indication of the child having a birth defect? I want to compare my baby's appearance with such pictures so as to get an idea whether my child has Erb's Palsy or not.

A:In typical pictures of kids suffering from Erb's Palsy, there are no obvious visible marks or defects. However, the most distinctive telltale signs are limbs such as either the left or the right arm that hangs loosely by the side. As the child grows older, there is diminished control of muscle movement and coordination which is made apparent by awkward standing positions that are also captured in images.

Q:How is an Erb's Palsy prognosis carried out?

A:Since Erb's Palsy is not a visible birth defect such as facial deformities or skin scarring or a deformed limb, detecting it at first might seem tricky. However, a typical observation is when the doctor on delivery duty is facing difficulty in extracting the baby from the birth canal and the shoulder of the child seems to get lodged in the mother's pelvic, there is a high chance that the newborn will develop Erb's Palsy.

Q:In the event of erbs palsy recovery, does one still have a claim or a lawsuit for medical malpractice?

A:In the event of Erbs Palsy recovery, a parent can still file a lawsuit for medical malpractice on part of the doctor responsible for the condition in a child. In most cases Erbs Palsy recovery is not complete but even if there is complete Erbs Palsy recovery you can sue your doctor for the medical bills, pain and suffering caused by his or her negligence during delivery.

Q:My child requires Erbs Palsy surgery. Can I claim the expenses incurred in Erbs Palsy surgery in a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor responsible for my child's condition?

A:A medical malpractice lawsuit will normally seek all compensation of all medical bills, including any medical expenses for Erbs Palsy surgery. You should contact a lawyer immediately to find out about how you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit against those responsible. Time is of the essence as the statute of limitations requires immediate action upon knowledge.

Q:My newborn seems to exhibit Erbs Palsy symptoms. Could it be because of my doctor's negligence during delivery?

A:If your child shows Erbs Palsy symptoms, it is quite possible that he or she may have Erbs Palsy as a result of medical negligence on part of your doctor. You should contact a medical malpractice attorney immediately to find out your legal options vis a vis your newborn's Erbs Palsy symptoms. A medical malpractice attorney will most likely seek independent medical advice from a doctor to file your case.

Q:My son is 2 years old and has Erb's Palsy. I have been searching online and have found that Erb's Palsy is usually caused by negligence of the doctors at time of birth. Can I still sue for Erbs Palsy treatment costs?

A:Erb's Palsy may be caused by your doctor's negligence at the time of your son's birth. If you file a medical malpractice lawsuit, Erbs Palsy treatment costs will be part of the damages claimed. Contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to see whether your lawsuit has merits and can help you get the compensation you deserve and need.

Q:When can I get the help of a New York Erbs palsy lawyer?

A:Erb's palsy is caused when the nerve fibers are stretched or torn during childbirth. One of the most common factors causing Erb's palsy is the improper monitoring of labor. Carelessness on the medical practitioner's part can lead to various problems for the child including the inability to move or control hands, arms, elbows or shoulders. If you think that the reason for your child's Erb's palsy is that you weren't provided with proper care during childbirth, you should seek an attorney's help.

Q:I want to know what options are available for the treatment of erbs palsy. Please help a little.

A:In case it's a mild tear or a simple stretch injury, Erb's palsy can heal on its own. However, in cases where a baby has erb palsy, the baby should get physical therapy so that the arm does not stiffen. Surgery is required if the nerve is damaged more extensively. Tendon transplants are sometimes used if the nerves fail to function properly.

Q:What is erb palsy?

A:ERB palsy is a type of paralysis caused by injury to the upper arm section. It is also known as brachial palsy. The condition causes complete or partial paralysis of the arm muscles, varying in degree. The main cause of this paralysis is nerve damage which can stem from an injury, difficult birth delivery, and excessive strain upon shoulders.

Q:What is erbs palsy? I came across this term somewhere and I want to know about it.

A:An injury to the brachial plexus, which are the nerves surrounding the shoulder, causes a condition known as Erb's palsy. It is often associated with cerebral palsy; however it is not so as it is not caused by an injury to the brain. It is also known as brachial palsy or Klumpke paralysis. A mild injury can be healed on its own and with a little physical therapy however an extensive one needs surgery or tendon transplants.

Q:I heard that brachial plexus erb s palsy is caused when the upper nerves of neck and arm are damaged. Can you tell me if this is true?

A:Yes this is true. Brachial plexus erb s palsy is caused when the network of nerves in the neck and arm are damaged. In most cases this occurs when too much force is applied during birth. Almost two babies out of every 1000 suffer from brachial plexus erb s palsy. There are a few treatment options available for such babies.

Q:As I was reading about the causes of erb s palsy, I came across the term avulsion fracture. Can you explain what this is?

A:Avulsion fracture is a type of fracture that occurs when a small piece of the bone breaks away or tears away due to excessive force. This type of fracture may occur at the tendon or ligament. The treatment will depend upon the severity of the fracture. In some cases, support bandage is enough to treat the fracture, while in some cases surgery may be required.