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Let a Wyoming Erb's Palsy Lawyer Pursue Compensation After Negligence
Erb’s palsy is a brachial plexus injury usually occurring at birth, though it can occur due to injury later in life as well. Erb’s palsy weakens the arm and neck due to nerve damage from pulling the neck, head, and shoulder. When this injury occurs during birth, it can be caused by birth complications that injure the child’s back, neck, and shoulder from stretching or tearing the brachial plexus during delivery. While some cases of Erb’s palsy may resolve without much medical intervention, the damage to nerves is a serious medical concern that should not be taken lightly. As such, if a birth injury caused Erb’s palsy, you should talk to a Wyoming Erb’s palsy lawyer about your claim to pursue the compensation your child deserves. Ragain and Clark has offices conveniently located in Montana and Wyoming.
Diagnosing and Treating Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy is diagnosed through a variety of medical tests to measure nerve and muscle function. Electromyography (EMG) can measure nerve and muscle response, while MRI, CT, and x-rays show muscle and bone damage. Physical evaluations on a range of motion and strength are also used in Erb’s palsy assessments. After completing diagnostic assessments, treatment for Erb’s palsy should begin promptly.
A delayed diagnosis can adversely impact your child’s prognosis. That said, it is important to seek early treatment for Erb’s palsy to enhance the chance of successful treatment since untreated nerve damage exacerbates the resulting issues. A Wyoming Erb’s palsy lawyer can help you claim financial compensation for the injury your child has suffered and lessened the financial burden for treating the condition.
In mild cases, Erb’s palsy may resolve as the child grows and develops without additional medical treatment. However, treatment is usually necessary. Common treatments include physical therapy to promote an improved range of motion and strength, or surgery to repair nerve and muscle damage. Even with surgery, it may be impossible to completely resolve the damage from a brachial plexus injury causing Erb’s palsy. Therefore, continued medical treatment to maintain or improve strength and motion is a regular part of handling Erb’s palsy.
How Erb’s Palsy Affects Patients
Erb’s palsy can have a lasting impact on sufferers. Nerve damage limits the ability to move the shoulder and arm as one would without brachial plexus damage and can even result in paralysis. Muscle weakness and loss of sensation can make routine activities difficult for those suffering from Erb’s palsy. Continuing medical treatments, surgeries, and therapy can become a burden on patients and families.
How Medical Negligence Can Cause Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy may be the result of medical negligence during the delivery of a child. Childbirth, while a natural part of life, can be complicated and dangerous. When doctors need to medically intervene in the natural childbirth process, infants can become injured for a number of reasons. Doctors need to be aware of potential risks of labor and delivery and ready to address these concerns in their unique patients. Common risks for brachial plexus injuries at birth include larger-sized babies, prolonged labor, and breech position of the infant.
Complicated labor and delivery scenarios can cause doctors to use additional force or techniques to deliver the baby. Tools used to remove a child from the birth canal can injure the brachial plexus from pulling, twisting, and turning. Breech positioning can result in additional maneuvering to get the baby out and strain the baby’s back and neck. The use of too much force by the doctor can injure the child. Surgical intervention can unexpectedly become urgent, caesareans can become dangerous, surgical devices can malfunction, or the OB/GYN can lose focus, resulting in injuries to the newborn infant.
Dealing with the fallout of medical negligence is no easy task. An experienced Wyoming Erb’s palsy lawyer can present your case with the confidence and compassion needed to achieve the results your family needs. From negotiation of settlement to trial, Ragain & Clark has your back. If your child suffers from Erb’s palsy and you have reason to believe it was caused by medical negligence, it's important to contact an attorney sooner rather than later.
Contact a Wyoming Erb's Palsy Lawyer at Ragain and Clark Today
If you or a loved one suffer from Erb’s palsy, you need to contact a Wyoming Erb’s palsy lawyer and discuss your claim. You can discuss your case with Ragain & Clark by calling 307-388-6400 or contact us online.
