Understanding Erb’s Palsy & Brachial Plexus Injuries

Understanding Erb’s Palsy & Brachial Plexus Injuries

January is National Birth Defects Awareness Month, a time to promote healthier pregnancies and highlight ways to reduce the risk of birth defects during delivery. It’s also a time to raise awareness and advocate for the health of children and families living with birth defects and injuries. Pegalis Law Group, LLC often handles cases involving Erb’s palsy and other brachial plexus birth injuries, many of which are caused by the negligence of physicians and other medical staff. Below, we are taking a closer look at these injuries, what causes them, and what can be done to prevent and/or help treat them.

What Is Erb’s Palsy? What Are the Symptoms?

Also referred to as brachial plexus birth palsy or a brachial plexus birth injury, Erb’s palsy is a birth injury affecting the brachial plexus nerves (from the neck to the shoulder). This type of injury affects arm and shoulder movement, sometimes resulting in paralysis. Erb’s palsy affects as many as 12,000 childbirths per year. Adults can also develop brachial plexus injuries later in life caused by traffic or industrial accidents, surgical complications, tumors, injuries related to contact sports, gunshot and knife wounds, and more. Symptoms of Erb’s palsy and other brachial plexus injuries include:

• Shoulder, arm, or elbow paralysis, limpness, or limited feeling
• Numbness or tingling in the arms and hands
• Hand position referred to as “the waiter’s tip” position (palm points backward with curling fingers)

Your baby could also have a broken collar or upper arm bone or Horner’s syndrome (drooping eyelid with a slightly smaller eye pupil on the same side as their weak arm) due to their injury.

How Do Brachial Plexus Injuries Occur During Delivery?

The position of the baby in the uterus during pregnancy and labor can cause Erb’s palsy and brachial plexus injuries. Sometimes, the baby’s head and shoulders get stuck inside the mother’s pelvis or vagina. The doctor may tilt the head to one side to free the shoulders, resulting in the brachial nerves being stretched or torn. Certain factors may increase your baby’s risk of Erb’s palsy. Discuss any of the following with your doctor before delivery to help prevent brachial plexus injuries from occurring:

• High infant birth weights (larger infants are more likely to get stuck)
• Breech birth positions (baby’s feet or buttocks positioned to come out first)
• Multiple-birth pregnancies with vaginal delivery
• Gestational diabetes (being overweight or obese can increase your risks)
• Previous pregnancies involving shoulder dystocia or complications

How Are Brachial Plexus Injuries Diagnosed and Treated?

Diagnosis of Erb’s palsy or a brachial plexus injury usually involves a physical exam and medical imaging, which could be anything from an EMG to an MRI, CT scan, or X-ray if there are suspected broken bones. Treatment may vary depending on the injury’s severity. Some injuries resolve themselves within 3-4 months. However, your doctor may recommend splinting, physical therapy, and stretching exercises to restore range of motion and prevent permanent joint stiffness. Hydrotherapy may make exercise more tolerable while providing support. If symptoms generally don’t improve within six months, your doctor may suggest corrective surgery to repair the nerves or muscles. While Erb’s palsy isn’t a fatal condition, it can result in paralysis or loss of muscle function in the arm or shoulder if left untreated. The longer a nerve injury goes untreated, the less likely it is to achieve an optimal outcome for the patient.

What to Do If You or a Loved One Experiences a Birth Injury

Birth injuries are frequently caused by medical errors and negligence, including delays in ordering C-sections, failure to monitor or respond properly to fetal distress, failure to manage prenatal infections, and failure to respond to bleeding or umbilical cord entrapment. If you or a loved one encountered an injury while giving birth or suspect trauma during the birthing process caused a future medical problem for your child, you have the right to know what went wrong and pursue legal compensation. Contact an experienced birth injury law firm for a consultation to determine your case’s eligibility.

Representing Clients With Birth Injuries for 50+ Years

Pegalis Law Group, LLC is a New York-based personal injury and medical malpractice law firm with 50+ years of experience. Over the years, we’ve represented countless clients with Erb’s palsy and brachial plexus birth injuries. Please visit our website and follow us on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for additional insights to be proactive about your family’s healthcare this year and beyond.