Erb's palsy is an injury to the network of nerve fibers that send signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm, wrist, hand and fingers, and thus control movement and feeling in those areas.
It is an injury that often happens to newborn babies during a difficult natural delivery as a result of excessive pressure to the head, neck or shoulders. The types of deliveries during which a baby is most likely to be injured in this way include those involving a large baby, breeched position or prolonged labor. Under such circumstances, the doctor or other health care professional may apply maneuvers (sometimes involving the use of forceps or a vacuum) that may cause excessive pulling on the shoulders during a headfirst delivery or put excessive pressure on the arms during a breech delivery.
Depending on the nature and extent of the damage, possible symptoms of Erb's palsy can include:
1. a lack of muscle control and of feeling in the arm or hand,
2. an inability to use the shoulder or elbow,
3. low grip strength, or
4. a paralysis of the arm, hand and fingers.
In general terms, the baby tends to display what can most easily be described as a limp arm - the arm hangs limp and is rotated internally. Because of the lack of use, the arm may appear underdeveloped as compared to the unaffected arm.
In addition, babies with Erb's palsy may show a number of other symptoms related to problems with circulation, including skin rashes, slow healing, and a propensity for infections.
Many babies affected by Erb's palsy make a full recovery within 6 months of the injury. If the injury involves merely the stretching, but not the rupture or severing of the nerves, massage or physical therapy may be sufficient for recovery. In cases involving an actual rupturing or tearing of the nerves, surgery may be necessary, possibly including tendon transfers to compensate for nerves that have lost functionality. If surgery does not resolve the damage, the child may be left with permanent, partial, or total loss of function of the affected nerves, causing life-long arm weakness or paralysis of the arm.
If your child suffers from Erb's Palsy you should immediately contact a medical malpractice attorney to determine whether you and your child may have a claim against the doctor or other medical care professional responsible for your child's injury. Keep in mind that the law limits the amount of time you have to pursue a claim.
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