Erb's Palsy - Brachial Plexus Injuries

During and after the birth of a child, the baby is vulnerable to injury that may result in permanent damage. While there are many different types of birth injuries and the severity of any injury may vary from child to child, one type of injury that can be very serious is damage to the brachial plexus.

Injury to the brachial plexus during birth is referred to as Erb’s Palsy or Brachial Palsy. The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that radiate from the spinal cord, through the shoulder and down into the arms and the hands. A brachial plexus injury occurs in cases where the shoulder becomes impacted in the womb making deliver more difficult and ultimately requiring additional pressure to deliver the impacted shoulder. If excessive pressure is applied to the child’s head during birth, the chances increase that the delivery will stretch and/or tear the brachial plexus nerves leading from the spinal cord, resulting in permanent injury.

This medical emergency is called shoulder dystocia, and its causes are largely unknown. It occurs in non-diabetic and diabetic mothers who are delivering children with high birthweights, however, the incidence is higher among diabetic mothers.

As a result of suffering damage to the Brachial Plexus, the newborn may present with:· paralysis or limpness in the arms· lack of muscle control in the arm, hand or wrist· limited movement in hands or fingers, and· may also experience loss of sensation in hands or fingers

Some injuries to the Brachial Plexus may heal on their own without treatment, generally in the first 3-4 months of age. However, if a child is still showing symptoms beyond this time, then physical therapy or surgery may be indicated.

Erb’s palsy is often the result of medical negligence during delivery, which means that babies with erb’s palsy may have a claim for damages against the doctor and/or hospital that handled the labor and delivery.

For more information about brachial plexus injuries and erb’s palsy claims, please visit this birth injury website and this Erb's Palsy website.

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