Erb’s Palsy is a type of brachial plexus birth injury. In fact, Erb’s Palsy is one of the most common of shoulder dystocia injuries. As a parent, there is nothing more upsetting than your child suffering from a preventable birth injury. Acceptable birthing conditions involve close monitoring. When a foreseeable and preventable birth injury, like Erb's Palsy, occurs, the medical professionals involved in the delivery should be held accountable. If your child was born with Erb’s Palsy and you believe that it could have been prevented, contact our birth injury lawyers as soon as possible to begin exploring your legal options.
Causes of Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s Palsy injuries occur when a newborn’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone, causing the brachial plexus to become compressed, pulled or torn. An experienced obstetrician should be able to determine risks that will increase the likelihood of a child being born with Erb’s Palsy and should take steps to avoid these types of birth injuries during delivery. Some of the most common risk factors of Erb’s Palsy birth injuries include:
- An extended pregnancy (lasting more than 40 weeks)
- High birth-weight babies
- Mother’s with diabetes
- Short maternal stature
- Overweight mothers
- A protracted second stage of labor
- A contracted or flat pelvis
If any of these risk factors are present and a natural delivery still occurs, the doctor may be liable for inflicting birth injury. Do not wait to contact our birth injury lawyers if your child was born with Erb’s Palsy and you believe that it could have been prevented.
Symptoms of Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s Palsy is a type of brachial plexus injury, affecting the group of nerves running from the top of the spine, through the shoulder and down to the fingertips. Erb’s Palsy symptoms can include:
- No feeling or muscle control in the arm or hand
- Limited control of arm and hand movement
- Arm paralysis
- Facial paralysis on the affected side
- Loss of ability to sit without assistance
- Inability to control shoulder or elbow function, but retaining hand function
Types of Erb’s Palsy
Depending on the type of nerve damage, Erb’s palsy injuries can range from mild to severe. There are four types of Erb’s Palsy birth injuries; stretch, neuroma, rupture and avulsion.
- Stretch – Erb’s Palsy stretch injuries are generally the mildest form of brachial plexus injury. The severity of stretch injuries varies depending on the amount of extension. Erb’s Palsy stretch injuries normally heal in 1 to 2 years with close to full functionality.
- Neuroma – Neuroma injuries happen when scar tissue applies pressure to the nerves in the brachial plexus. Neuroma injuries are not likely to heal naturally and will often require surgery to restore complete mobility of the child’s arm.
- Rupture – In patients with Erb’s Palsy, a rupture injury refers to the tearing of nerve tissue in multiple areas of the brachial plexus. Similar to neuroma injuries, rupture injuries typically require surgery to restore total mobility.
- Avulsion – Avulsion injuries occur when the nerves in the brachial plexus separate completely from the spinal cord. Avulsion is the most severe Erb’s Palsy injury a baby can endure. To resume normal activity, intricate surgeries and possible muscle transfer is required.
Oklahoma Erb’s Palsy Lawsuits
If your child suffers from Erb’s Palsy caused by Oklahoma medical malpractice, it is important to have an experienced birth injury lawyer by your side. You must show proof of negligence on behalf of the medical professional in order to be awarded compensation for your child’s injury. Our knowledgeable birth injury attorneys have the ability to successfully prepare and present the facts of your claim to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your child’s injuries. For immediate assistance with your Oklahoma Erb’s Palsy claim, please fill out our online contact form to schedule a free and confidential case review.
