Erb’s palsy stems from a birth injury in which your baby may have been put under unnecessary force during delivery. Pulling on the baby can lead to nerve damage, which may impair function in the arm. In some cases, Erb’s palsy may heal, but in other cases, it may result in permanent injury.
If your child has suffered nerve damage resulting in Erb’s palsy, you may be able to get compensation with a lawsuit. Please contact AccidentAttorneys.org today to talk to a birth injury lawyer and learn whether this is the best option for you.
What Is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy is one form of palsy that occurs when a child suffers an injury to the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is a cluster of nerves just outside your spine that controls your arm. Injury to this cluster of nerves can impair the ability of signals to travel from the brain to the arm, so your baby has limited motion of the arm.
In actual Erb’s palsy, your baby cannot move his or her shoulder, but can move his or her fingers. A more serious nerve injury results in total paralysis of the arm, and is technically called a total brachial plexus palsy, but is commonly known also as Erb’s palsy.
What Causes Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy results when your baby’s head and neck are put under too much strain during birth. The force pulls on the brachial plexus, resulting in injury.
When a child has a breech delivery, is larger than average, or gets stuck in the birth canal, it is more likely that your child will suffer an injury.
Will Your Child Recover?
The odds of recovery for your child depend on the type of injury received. The types of brachial plexus injury include:
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Minor stretch injury likely causes discomfort, but no lasting damage. Likely to heal in three months or less.
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Major stretch injury in which the nerves are stretched almost to their breaking point, resulting in damage. This will heal, but scarring means total function may not be recovered.
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Rupture of the nerve caused by the excessive stress. This will not heal on its own, and may not be reparable.
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Avulsion is when the brachial plexus is completely or partly torn away from the spinal column. This will not heal on its own, but surgery can result in some recovery.
The degree of injury your child suffered is related to the degree of force he or she was subjected to during birth.
The compensation you may be able to receive depends on the severity and type of your child’s injury. To learn more about your legal options, please contact AccidentAttorneys.org today.