Erb’s Palsy Injuries

We have substantial experience in acting for children who have suffered an Erb’s Palsy injury.

Contact us

Contact

  • “Stephanie Prior is the leading spokesperson on the high profile maternity scandal cases involving many NHS Trusts.”

  • “Her level of detail in dealing with cases is forensic.”

What is an Erb’s Palsy Injury?

Erb’s Palsy is a serious birth injury that can lead to paralysis in the arm. It is also known as a brachial plexus injury.

Most commonly, it occurs when the baby’s shoulder becomes stuck in the birth canal during delivery – known as shoulder dystocia – this means that the team delivering the baby has to manoeuvre the mother and use specialist techniques to enable the baby to be born safely.

The doctor or midwife delivering the baby has to take additional care when managing shoulder dystocia during delivery. In the event that they use excessive force to deliver, the nerves in the babies’ arms can be injured. The extent of the injury varies from case to case but it can represent a lifelong injury, seriously compromising mobility.

Injury to the brachial plexus is usually always avoidable, provided that there is appropriate recognition of shoulder dystocia and appropriate management of the delivery. Any experienced doctor or midwife ought to be aware that there are practices and protocols which should be followed in cases of shoulder dystocia to prevent injury.

Erb’s palsy is not genetic.

Common errors associated with Erb’s Palsy injury

  • Failure to recognise that the mother should deliver by Caesarean Section, particularly where it is recognised that the baby is likely to be large.
  • Failure to manage shoulder dystocia using the techniques to ensure safe delivery without injuring the nerves in the upper arm.

Causes of Erb’s Palsy

  • Excessive pulling or stretching of the baby’s head during a vaginal birth
  • Large baby
  • A baby presenting as being in the breech position
  • Prolonged labour
  • Complications during birth resulting in an instrumental delivery usually involving forceps

Symptoms of Erb’s Palsy

  • One weak or numb arm
  • Paralysis in the arm
  • Loss of sensation in the arm
  • Pain in the arm

What we can do to assist

Utilising our experience, we would instruct recognised experts in this field, most commonly midwifery experts, obstetricians and orthopaedic experts, to assist us in investigating whether there has been negligence. In order to explore issues relating to prognosis and formulate a lifetime compensation package to cover all our clients’ needs, we work with care experts, neuro-physiotherapists, and orthopaedic experts to prepare recommendations for future needs and to calculate the associated financial losses.

Experience/Relevant cases

  • Our solicitor secured compensation against a well-known obstetrician who works for the country’s best known private hospital and who applied excessive force when delivering our client. We issued court proceedings that were initially defended but prior to trial, we negotiated a compensation sum, based on a full liability sum of £600,000 which enabled our client to have life-changing surgery and a lifetime of care and physiotherapy. Our client moved to Florida before the case had concluded so we then involved American experts to assist with the likely treatment and costs of obtaining this treatment in America.
  • Our solicitor acted for a boy who suffered an Erb’s Palsy injury during delivery, due to the midwife’s failure to appreciate the importance of positioning the mother correctly during delivery, to overcome the shoulder dystocia and subsequently delivering the baby with excess force. We instructed experts in midwifery, obstetrics and orthopaedics to build our case against the NHS Trust. At the same time, we obtained evidence on prognosis and quantification from experts in orthopaedics, neuro-physiotherapy and care to enable us to assess our client’s past and future financial loss, arising out of his injuries. A Letter of Claim was served on the NHS Trust but liability was denied.

Get in touch with our Specialist Team

If you think that you or your child has suffered an Erb’s Palsy injury as a result of medical negligence and that you have a case to claim for compensation, please get in touch with our specialist team as soon as possible. Our team have many years experience in representing patients and their families, who have been affected by Erb’s Palsy injuries.

Contact us today

For a free initial conversation call 020 7485 8811

Email us Send us an email and we’ll get back to you

    • [utm_campaign_i][/utm_campaign_i]
      [utm_source_i][/utm_source_i]
      [utm_medium_i][/utm_medium_i]
      [utm_term_i][/utm_term_i]
      [utm_content_i][/utm_content_i]
      [gclid_i][/gclid_i]

    • Stephanie Prior is head of the clinical negligence department at Osbornes Law. She acts on a wide range of issues, including claims for brain injuries sustained at birth and delays in diagnosis. She frequently represents clients in fatal claims involving surgical error.

      Chambers UK 2023

    • "Stephanie Prior is the leading spokesperson on the high profile maternity scandal cases involving many NHS Trusts."

      Legal 500 2023

    • Stephanie has developed a particularly strong reputation for her handling of birth injury claims, as well as cases concerning surgical negligence and delays in surgery.

      Chambers UK

    Client StoriesVIEW ALL

    1. baby hand in mothers hand
      7.3.2023

      5-figure settlement for infusion leak to mother

      Elline Demetriou has reached another successful outcome for a Claimant, who pursued a post C-section birth injury to mother claim...

      Read more
    2. water
      9.2.2023

      Perineal Tear case settles for 6-figure sum

      Stephanie Prior recently settled a birth injury claim relating to a woman who delivered her baby after a traumatic labour....

      Read more
    3. Medical doctor in empty hospital corridor
      1.8.2022

      Successful settlement for birth injury that led to...

      Stephanie Prior’s case relating to the death of Gabriela Pintilie has settled and has been approved by the High...

      Read more
    4. Neglijenta medicala spital din UK
      23.5.2022

      Justice for client who suffered serious birth injuries

      The Clinical Negligence team at Osbornes Law have recently negotiated the settlement of a case in which our client sustained...

      Read more
    5. Pregnant Woman and Gynecologist Doctor at Hospit
      14.2.2022

      Recent birth injury cases

      Osbornes Law specialises in helping families who have suffered a birth injury. We have represented families who have suffered the...

      Read more
    6. cute kid with disability playing
      27.1.2022

      Recent cerebral palsy cases

      Osbornes Law specialises in helping families where a child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. We represent clients and families...

      Read more
    7. lesiones de nacimiento
      24.1.2022

      Likely settlement of £15-20 million for cerebral palsy...

      A client who suffered cerebral palsy injuries at birth was awarded £200,000 as an interim payment in a claim against NHS...

      Read more
    8. Pregnant woman holding blanket,
      12.1.2022

      Wrongful birth claim successfully settled

      Background Our client, J, fell pregnant in October 2015 and took the difficult decision to undergo a termination. She booked an...

      Read more
    9. white rose
      1.12.2021

      Maternity claim for fatality following caesarean section

      Stephanie Prior is acting for a gentleman whose wife died after she had a caesarean section. The claim is on...

      Read more
    10. hospital bed
      20.7.2021

      Osbornes Successfully Settle Wrongful Birth Claim

      Nicholas Leahy, clinical negligence lawyer at Osbornes Law has recently negotiated the successful settlement of a wrongful birth case. Our...

      Read more
    11. white lilies
      1.7.2021

      Stillbirth following water birth at home

      Nicholas Leahy acted for a young woman who had a water birth at home and two midwives were allocated to...

      Read more
    12. 18.5.2021

      Erb’s palsy injury caused by well-know private...

      Our solicitor secured Erb’s palsy injury compensation against a well-known obstetrician who works for the country’s best-known private...

      Read more
    13. 18.5.2021

      Cerebral Palsy injuries suffered at birth likely settlement...

      A client who suffered cerebral palsy injuries at birth was awarded over £375,000 as an interim payment in a claim against...

      Read more
    14. hospital signs
      18.5.2021

      Failure to diagnose and treat Ogilvie’s syndrome

      Our client  suffered the consequences of a delayed diagnosis of Ogilvie’s syndrome following the birth of her daughter by...

      Read more
    15. 11.10.2019

      Mum had stillborn baby after being sent home

      A young mum has spoken of the horror of having her child stillborn after she was sent home twice by...

      Read more
    16. candles
      19.6.2013

      Family of Birth Injury Victim receive Compensation

      The family of a boy left severely brain-damaged by complications at his birth in hospital have accepted £6 million in compensation....

      Read more

    VIEW ALL

    Accreditations

    • Times best law firms 2023
    • scil logo
    • legal 500 leading firm
    • chambers logo