Baltimore Erb's Palsy Lawyers

Erb’s Palsy vs Cerebral Palsy

What’s the difference between cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy? Erb’s Palsy is a type of brachial plexus birth palsy named after William Erb, the doctor who first diagnosed the condition. The brachial plexus is a nerve network located near the neck that allows our shoulders, hands, arms, and fingertips to move. Those who have Erb’s palsy experience arm weakness and loss of range of motion. In children, the following are common symptoms of Erb’s palsy:

• Loss of feeling in one arm 
• Total loss of movement (paralysis) in one arm
• Arm weakness

According to recent statistics, 1 out of every 1,000 newborns develops Erb’s palsy. The majority of infants, however, can recover arm movement through daily physical therapy with the assistance of their parents. Although treatment is available, it does not undo the harm that could have been avoided through acceptable medical care. If you believe your baby sustained a birth injury due to medical malpractice, contact Hyatt & Goldbloom today to speak with our Baltimore Erb’s palsy lawyer.

Causes of Erb’s Palsy

Erb’s Palsy is caused by a strain to the baby’s brachial plexus during childbirth, which can be either normal or difficult. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves near the neck that gives rise to all of the arm’s nerves. These nerve fibers transmit sensation and movement to the arm, hand, and fingertips. When a doctor or midwife pulls on the baby’s arm to free his or her shoulder, the healthy nerves of the brachial plexus can be stretched or damaged. Other causes of Erb’s palsy include:

• When it comes to pushing the baby’s head or neck side-ways through the birth canal during a difficult delivery, you’re in charge.
• When the baby’s shoulders are being squeezed during a head-first delivery
• Putting too much force on the baby’s arms by pulling on their feet during a breech birth
• Shoulder dislocation or fractures in the collarbone

All of the actions outlined above might be considered medical negligence. Doctors, nurses, and other medical experts who use too much force during delivery may result in avoidable cases of Erb’s palsy. There are a few risk circumstances that might raise the chances of a kid suffering brachial plexus nerve damage during delivery. Risk factors for Erb’s palsy include:

• Abnormal maternal pelvis shape
• Birth weight over 8 pounds, 13 ounces (macrosomia)
• C-section (cesarean section)
• Maternal diabetes
• Maternal obesity
• The second stage of labor lasting longer than one hour
• Use of forceps or vacuum delivery

Common Injuries Caused By Erb’s Palsy

There are several different sorts of Erb’s palsy injuries. The kind of brachial plexus injury a youngster gets is determined by the amount of damage to the nerve network. The four types of Erb’s palsy injuries include the following:

Neuropraxia

The most frequent form of Erb’s palsy is this one. In this scenario, the nerves are stretched but not torn, producing a stinging or burning sensation. Neuropraxias tend to heal on their own in three months or less in most cases.

Neuroma

Neuromas are a form of nerve entrapment. They’re more serious than neuropraxia because scar tissue forms as nerves mend following an initial tear. This puts pressure on healthy nerves. The majority of children afflicted with neuromas will only partially heal.

Rupture

The pain felt in this region is most likely going to be caused by a nerve injury. A damaged nerve cannot heal on its own, and it generally necessitates surgical nerve repair.

Avulsion

The most severe brachial plexus injury is a complete separation of the nerve roots from the spinal cord, resulting in permanent muscular weakness/paralysis. Nerve repair surgery can help restore damaged nerves, but it cannot reconnect them to the spinal cord.