Erb’s Palsy
4/12/11
(Courtesy Photo)
Erb’s palsy is one of the birth injuries which can be caused during difficult births. Erb’s palsy is an injury to the system of nerves around the shoulders. In cases of a difficult delivery, the excessive force on the baby can cause such problems. If this occurs, it is advisable to contact a birth injury attorney in order to get information whether a malpractice lawsuit is applicable.
As mentioned above, Erb’s palsy typically happens to babies during a challenging delivery because of excessive pressure to the head, neck or shoulders. This type of delivery is where the baby has the greatest risk of being harmed in this manner. Risks include high birth weight, breech position, or extended labor. If one of these conditions arises, the doctor or other health care professional may use maneuvers (sometimes involving the use of forceps or a vacuum) that can produce excessive pulling on the shoulders during a head first delivery or put excessive pressure on the arm and shoulder during a breech delivery.
There are variations of Erb’s palsy from minor to serious injuries. Many babies suffering from Erb’s palsy can recover within six months, sometimes by means of physical therapy. But it is not always this way, and in situations involving an actual rupturing or tearing of the nerves, surgery might be needed, possibly including tendon transfers to compensate for nerves that have lost functionality. If surgery fails to eliminate the injury, the baby could be left with lifelong, partial or total loss of function of the affected nerves, resulting in paralysis of the arm or arm weakness.
If your child is suffering from erbs palsy, immediately contact a birth injury or erbs palsy attorney who will help you to deal with the situation and decide whether you might be able to pursue a case against the physician or other medical care professional responsible for your child’s injury. Remember that a plaintiff has only a limited time frame to act. Seek advice from a birth injury attorney regarding compensation for the emotional distress the birth injury has caused the family.
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