Erb's Palsy

If your child suffers from Erb's palsy, you should seek more than medical advice. It is important to find out how Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus Sachs P.C., can potentially help your family receive a settlement that could enable you to properly care for your child.

Erb's palsy (sometimes called Brachial Plexus palsy) is a common example of a birth injury caused by physical trauma to the fetus. The brachial plexus is a nerve bundle located in the shoulder region that controls muscles in the shoulder, arms and hands. During labor and birth, a fetus' shoulder can become lodged or stuck under the mother's pubic bone following the delivery of the head (this condition is known as shoulder dystocia). If the treating physician uses excessive force on the child's head in an effort to dislodge the shoulder (pulls too hard on the head in the direction of one shoulder in an attempt to get the baby out), damage can occur to the nerve bundles located in the shoulder region causing neurological injury.

Erb's palsy is the result of damage to the nerves controlling the upper arm and shoulder. The severity of the injury depends on what happens to the nerves. They can become stretched (called praxis) and scar tissue can develop (neuroma). In more severe cases, the nerves tear completely off the spinal cord (avulsion).

Children born with brachial plexus palsies like Erb's palsy can suffer paralysis and a loss of sensation and muscle control in their shoulders, arm and hands. Other consequences may include a winged scapula (shoulder blade), downward sloped shoulder, flexed elbow, internally rotated arm, an arm which is shorter and narrower than a healthy arm and possibly a hand which does not function properly. These children often cannot lift their arms above their head and do not have appropriate strength and fine motor coordination. Treatment options include extensive physical therapy and corrective surgeries.

There are several methods treating physicians and obstetricians can use to help prevent brachial plexus injuries. Risk factors are known to lead to such injuries, and should be looked for. These include the pre-birth weight of the baby (larger babies are more likely to have these types of complications), maternal diabetes and obesity, excessive weight during pregnancy, previous deliveries of large children and an abnormally long gestation period. Failure to look for or recognize these warning signs can lead to a mistaken assumption of a baby's size, which can prevent protective action from taking place. Many options exist for dislodging a baby's shoulder to prevent brachial plexus injuries during delivery. The treating physician can attempt to change the baby's or the mother's position.

A C-section, as well as other unconventional methods of delivery, can also be utilized. In extreme cases, the baby's clavicle bone or mother's pelvic bone can be intentionally broken to allow safe passage. If the treating physician or obstetrician fails to correctly anticipate the size of the fetus, or fails to prevent brachial plexus injuries through one of the above methods, they may be considered to have acted in a manner not consistent with established medical practices and might be held responsible for medical malpractice.

The delivery of a baby is a complicated process, and the potential for complications is always present. However, some complications like birth injuries are preventable, and it is the responsibility of the treating physician, obstetrician or their medical staff to provide adequate medical care for the fetus and mother during pregnancy, labor and delivery. The failure to take every precaution, and to perform each procedure correctly, when it can be shown that other medical personnel with similar training would have done so, can be considered medical malpractice.

If you suspect your child's birth injuries are a result of medical malpractice or negligence on behalf of a doctor, surgeon, physician or practitioner, please call us at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out the form to the right of the page for a free case evaluation.

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