Massachusetts Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Erb’s Palsy Symptoms & Treatment

Mistakes made during the labor and delivery process can cause serious injuries to newborns.  Each year, thousands of birth injuries occur across the United States.  While some injuries are very difficult to prevent, others can be avoided.  Erb’s palsy, also known as Brachial palsy, Klumpke paralysis and Erb-Duchenne paralysis, is a birth injury that is usually caused by an injury that occurs during birth.  It is a condition that is often preventable, as long as the hospital and doctors take the appropriate measures.

Erb’s palsy is defined as a loss of movement or weakness of the arm, which is the result of damage to the nerves around the shoulder.  This condition can have many causes, such as prolonged labor, breech position, induced labor and the fetal position.  If the baby is pulled on the shoulders during the birthing process, such as in a situation where the doctor pulls the infant as he or she passes through the birth canal, the risk of developing Erb’s palsy increases.

Symptoms of Erb’s palsy are usually identifiable immediately or soon after birth.  Erb’s palsy can cause partial or complete paralysis.  Some of the symptoms include an absence of the startle reflex, a flexed arm at the elbow that is held against the body, decreased grip and lack of spontaneous movement in the upper or lower arm or hand.  If the injuries are severe, the newborn may even have a droopy eyelid.

Erb’s palsy can be diagnosed by a pediatrician’s evaluation or through tests, including x-rays, CT scans and MRI scans.  A mild injury will eventually correct itself, usually after several months.  If the infant does not improve, surgery may be required.  Other treatment options include tendon transfers, nerve transfers and subscapularis releases.  If your child has been diagnosed with Erb’s palsy, you should discuss the various treatment methods available with your child’s physician.

If your newborn was injured during the birthing process as a direct result of the hospital or doctor’s negligence, you should contact a birth injury attorney who can help you file a claim.  Contact Kiley Law Group at (800) 930-8145 for advice regarding your Erb’s palsy case.

The article, Overview of Erb’s Palsy, has more information on this topic.