When the Unthinkable Happens: an Erb’s Palsy Overview

By Thomas Greer | January 25, 2015

Bringing home a new baby is one of the most blessed events in parents’ lives. No matter what, there is joy. However, when a birth injury like Erb’s palsy has occurred, your joy is tempered with worry and many unanswered questions.

What is Erb’s palsy?

  • Erb’s palsy is a form of brachial plexus birth injury. It happens when there are complications during childbirth.
  • Erb’s palsy occurs when the upper two brachial plexus nerves are damaged.
  • This damage affects the upper part of the arm and can cause weakness or even paralysis.
  • Erb’s is usually diagnosed in the hospital when medical personnel may notice that the baby is not moving one arm normally, or is not moving it at all. It could take up to two days to notice the problem.
  • A less common injury, Klumpke’s paralysis, happens when the damage is to the lower brachial plexus nerves.
  • At the most, Erbs palsy occurs in two out of every 1,000 live births in the United States.
  • About 90% of Erb’s palsy injuries will heal without surgery, although your child will probably need some degree of physical therapy for the first few months.
  • Erb’s palsy injuries are always caused by some kind of medical mistake.

What Causes Erb’s Palsy?

  • The most common cause of Erb’s is a shoulder dystocia. If the infant’s shoulders are wedged in the birth canal, the brachial plexus nerves can be damaged when force is used to free the baby.
  • Common methods of force include the use of forceps or vacuum.
  • A breech birth or prolonged labor can also result in a dystocia.

Can an Erb’s palsy birth injury be avoided?

  • In most cases, yes. A shoulder dystocia is a delivery room emergency, and each member of the delivery team should be well trained in how to avoid injury.
  • The most important thing a doctor can do is to know his patient and her history. There are many well-known risk factors for shoulder dystocia including the mother’s weight, the baby’s weight, and the presence of maternal diabetes, to name a few. Scheduling a cesarean section in extremely risky cases is the smart thing to do.
  • Many procedures can avert injury. There are about 16 obstetrical maneuvers that can free the baby’s shoulder. Every person in the delivery should be well trained and have experience in these procedures.

Unfortunately, delivery room personnel do not always have the training or experience to deal with the frightening emergency of shoulder dystocia. As a result, mostly avoidable Erb’s palsy injuries occur way too often.

If your child has been injured at birth and you suspect that medical mistakes have been made, do not hesitate to contact a Midsouth Tennessee birth injury lawyer. The Memphis law firm of Bailey & Greer delivers expert, caring advice for the parents of injured children. Call us today toll-free at 901-680-9777 to schedule a free consultation.

Posted in Birth Injuries, Library