Erb's Palsy from Medical Malpractice

If a Loved One Suffered Erb’s Palsy from Medical Malpractice, Learn How We can Help

Injuries before, during, or after labor and delivery are referred to as birth injuries. There are many different birth injuries, with some being more severe and permanent than others. Brachial plexus injuries are one of the most common injuries occurring at birth. Brachial plexus injuries are often avoidable if proper care is given to mothers and babies during the birthing process. One example of a type of brachial plexus injury that often is entirely avoidable is Erb’s palsy.

This means if your newborn baby or child was diagnosed with any brachial plexus birth injury, especially Erb’s Palsy, you should contact our lawyers to learn how we can help you and your family. You may be entitled to compensation for your baby’s medical bills and treatment, as well as your baby’s future pain and suffering. You may also be entitled to compensation for your lost wages and loss of society with your baby due to this type of medical malpractice. If your family has a baby diagnosed with Erb’s Palsy, call one of our Erb’s Palsy lawyers to learn what your rights may be under the law Medical Malpractice Universe.

What is Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s Palsy is a brachial plexus injury that occurs due to a nerve being either torn, ripped, stretched, or damaged. The damage in Erb’s Palsy is localized to the top of the arm and the shoulder. This means that a baby will have weakness or disfunction in the top of the arm, but may fully move the lower arm and hand without any issue. This is due to the individual nerves that were injured that govern only the top of the arm.

Types of Erb’s Palsy

While Erb’s palsy is a type of brachial plexus injury, there are also different types of Erb’s palsy injuries. Types of Erb’s palsy injuries include the following:

Neuroma injuries – Neuroma injuries occur when a nerve is torn, ripped, or damaged, causing scar tissue to develop around the wound. This puts pressure on the nerve, resulting in discomfort and impaired nerve function. There are certain instances in which surgery is required to repair the injury.

Neuropraxia injuries – This is the mildest type of Erb’s palsy injury, with damage only occurring to the covering of the nerve. The covering of the nerve is known as the myelin. Neuropraxia injuries happen when tearing or stretching of the myelin, leading to issues with nerve communication, impairing function, strength, and sensitivity.

Avulsion Injuries – This is the most severe type of Erb’s palsy injury. Most of the time, this type of damage is irreparable, leaving a child with a permanent injury. The nerve is completely torn from the spinal cord, making it nearly impossible to restore sensation, movement, strength, and function.

Rupture Injuries – Rupture injuries refer to a torn or damaged nerve but are not separated from the spinal cord. While this is a severe type of Erb’s palsy injury, there is hope for repair. However, complete restoration of function, strength, and sensation may not occur, and surgical intervention is often required.

What are the Symptoms of Erb’s Palsy Injuries?

Symptoms of Erb’s palsy injuries include the following:

Inability to move the upper arm with the ability to move the fingers
Arm weakness
Extreme pain
Numbness
Deformities in the upper arm (smaller, misshapen)
A baby acting with a “frozen shoulder” or not moving the shoulder, but moving the lower arm and hand well
Asymmetry in the shoulders, and
Other symptoms indicating a nerve injury.

Causes of Erb’s Palsy Injuries

Sometimes, Erb’s palsy injuries are entirely unavoidable. However, there are many instances where an Erb’s palsy injury could have been completely avoided. Examples of causes of Erb’s palsy injuries include the following:

Use of extraction tools (i.e. forceps or vacuum extractor)
Pulling on the baby’s head during contractions
Excessive force
Tugging, pulling, or yanking of the baby’s head, shoulders or arms during delivery
Dropping the baby after delivery on their head, neck, or shoulders
Delivery of a breech baby vaginally
Failure to assess the mother prior to delivery to determine if her pelvis can accommodate the baby for a vaginal delivery
Delay in performing a C-section
Mishandling the baby after birth
Piercing injuries to the arm or neck, and
Many other common causes of nerve injuries and birth injuries.

Was Your Baby Born With Any Type of Erb’s Palsy? We Can Help

All types of nerve injuries to a baby are serious and devastating. But they can also be catastrophic and debilitating, resulting in a lifetime of disability. Brachial plexus injuries are just these types of injuries that could affect an innocent baby. If your loved one was diagnosed with Erb’s Palsy, you might be entitled to compensation. Learn how you may recover compensation under the law by contacting one of our experienced Erb’s Palsy lawyers located here at Medical Malpractice Universe.