Erb's Palsy / Brachial Plexus Palsy

Another type of birth injury is known as Erb's palsy or brachial plexus palsy. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that allow movement and sensation to the fingers, hands and arms. Erb's palsy is caused by traumatic injury to the upper brachial plexus. Often this is caused during forcible delivery of a baby. The typical signs include loss of feeling in the arm and paralysis or atrophy of the muscles of the arm. Essentially the mechanics of injury involve the over stretching of one side of the neck during delivery. This stretches the nerves and can tear them as well.

There are many types of injuries to the brachial plexus that are possible during birth. For example, the nerves can be torn near the spinal cord or from the spinal cord, scar tissue can put pressure on the nerve or the nerves are damaged but not torn. Combined, these injuries are known as neurapraxia.

>An experienced medical malpractice lawyer will know what to look for to determine if this type of injury is involved in a case. Usually a newborn will show an Erb's Palsy injury by having his/her arm straight down and perhaps slightly turned. Mostly, the arm will not be moved. These injuries are not necessarily permanent as some babies do recover. However, the catastrophic cases do not recover and that is when an experienced medical malpractice lawyer can be of assistance.

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