Erb’s Palsy is a condition in newborn infants cased by damage or trauma to the Brachial Plexus. The Brachial Plexus is the area where the nerves that control movement in the arms, hands and fingers of a person join after exiting the spinal cord. Erb’s Palsy, or damage to the set of nerves that controls the muscles in the arm, is fairly common. Damage to the set of nerves that control movement to the hands and fingers, is much less common and is referred to as Klumpke’s Palsy. An injury to both sets of nerves, which occurs very rarely, is called Global Palsy.

Approximately 5,000 children are born with Erb’s Palsy each year. That is 2 out of every 1,000 infants. There are many factors that can cause Erb’s Palsy. On rare occasions diseases during the pregnancy, such as maternal diabetes or chicken pox, can cause damage to the Brachial Plexus, resulting in Erb’s Palsy. More commonly however, Erb’s Palsy is caused by injuries or damages sustained either before or during the delivery process. In these cases, during either a difficult natural childbirth or cesarean section if a doctor involved in the delivery process uses force to pull the child from the birth canal, this force can cause damage to the upper set of nerves which control the motor function of the arm. If the neck of the child is stretched too much during the delivery process, the nerves in the brachial Plexus can tear or stretch, resulting in Erb’s Palsy.

Erb’s Palsy, or damage to the brachial plexus, results in the inability or limited ability of the infant to move his or her arm. The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that sends signals to our muscles in our arms, hands and fingers. These signals are what allow us to control how our muscles move. When an infant has Erb’s Palsy, the signals that the nerves send to the muscles may be slowed down, weakened or even blocked, depending on the extent of the damage. Basically, Erb’s Palsy prevents muscles from moving normally.

Many children who have Erb’s Palsy may be able to move their hands and fingers normally, but they will have a lack of control over the movement of their arms. Infants with more severe cases of Erb’s Palsy may also have partial paralysis of the pupil of the eye on the affected side of the body. This is commonly referred to as “droopy eye syndrome.”

Although some children with mild cases of Erb’s Palsy may be able to recover on their own and medical treatment may not be necessary, many will not. If left untreated, Erb’s Palsy can have long term effects such as the shortening or general shrinking of the arm on the affected side of the body. In addition, the child may have a permanently bent elbow or an internally rotated shoulder.

In cases of Erb’s Palsy where medical treatment is necessary there are a couple of different options. At the very least, extensive physical therapy will be needed, but in many cases surgery is necessary.

If you think that your child may have Erb’s Palsy, we have highly experienced New York Erb’s Palsy Attorneys and nurses on staff ready to help you determine if your child has been the victim of medical malpractice. Our New York City Erb’s Palsy attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in many successfully handled cases to help our clients get the compensation that they deserve.

Our attorneys have helped many clients get the money they need to pay for surgery, therapy and other medical treatments that help minimize the effects of this condition. It is sometimes possible to heal even the most severe cases of Erb’s Palsy with the right medical treatment and care. That is why we have Erb’s Palsy attorneys on staff waiting for your call now. Please (even if you are not sure) call us now and we can help you determine if you have a case.

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