Erb’s Palsy, also known as Brachial Plexus Palsy, is the network of nerves that supply feeling and control to the shoulders and arms. Brachial Plexus Palsy is an injury to the nerves in the neck and upper chest. The injury can result in a loss of movement and feeling in the arm, hand and fingers. This injury often occurs during childbirth if the baby’s shoulders become stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone, and the appropriate delivery techniques are not used.
More specifically, when a baby’s shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone the baby’s head delivers but the shoulders do not follow. This condition is known as a shoulder dystocia. It is one of the most difficult obstacles that can occur during delivery because it carries with it the potential for high risk complications. At this point the physician must perform a particular delivery maneuver avoiding the placement of pressure on the shoulder. If this procedure is done improperly, an Erb’s Palsy can occur where the nerve tissue between the arm and shoulder is stretched, partially torn or completely ruptured.
According to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), 1-2 children out of 1000 may develop Erb’s palsy. The majority of these children will recover movement and feeling in the affected parts.
Some symptoms of Erb’s palsy include:
- Limp or paralyzed arm
- Lack of muscle control in the arm, hand or wrist
- Lack of feeling in the arm or hand
Skilled Brachial Plexus Injury Attorneys
Medical facilities can minimize the chances of Erb’s Palsy occurring through routine fetal monitoring and other standard procedures. But proving a particular case of Erb’s Palsy was preventable requires a thorough analysis of fetal monitoring and other medical records, and consultations with specialists such as obstetricians and pediatric neuroradiologists.
Children born with Brachial Plexus Injury (BPI) may suffer partial or total paralysis of these parts of the body. BPI is commonly associated with a problematic birth. A common cause of BPI is shoulder dystocia. Shoulder dystocia refers to the lodging of one or both of the baby’s shoulders behind the mother’s pubic bone during birth. In most cases where a baby is too large for vaginal delivery, this situation can be avoided by delivering the baby by Caesarian section. If a doctor delivers the baby vaginally by using too much force, or by using extraordinary measures, stretching or tearing of the nerves may result. A brachial plexus injury is severe, and a child with BPI may need prolonged therapy and, in extreme cases, may need surgery.
The majority of children born with brachial plexus palsy have neuropraxia, and most have a quick and permanent recovery. That is the good news. The bad news is that a small minority of children who suffer a brachial plexus injury do face potential long term problems. In some cases, children have symptoms such as a limp or paralyzed arm, lack of muscle control in the arm, hand or wrist, and lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or hand. These injuries occur most frequently when the nerve is torn from the spine (called an avulsion brachial plexus injury).
Birth injuries and defects can result from a failure to diagnose potential problems during pregnancy, as well as from mistakes made during the delivery process. With the exception of dystocia cases, most birth injuries involve a child failing to get proper oxygen. This can occur while the baby is in the womb or during birth.
