Erb’s palsy (also known as Brachial Plexus Paralysis) is a nerve injury that can affect an infant’s shoulder, arm, and hand. Caused by trauma during birth, Erb’s palsy can cause partial weakness or complete paralysis reaching all the way to the fingertips. It has become one of the most serious and common types of upper extremity injuries that occur during childbirth.

Erbs Palsy Birth Injuries

This injury occurs at a collection of nerves near the bones in the neck called the “brachial plexus” (also called “Erb’s Point”). These nerves run from the spinal cord through the arm, to the wrist and hand.

Erb’s Palsy almost always occurs during birth and it is preventable.  The injury happens when a baby is stuck in the birth canal during delivery, and its shoulder is lodged against the mother’s pelvic bone. This is often called “shoulder dystocia.” As a result, the doctor is forced to try and dislodge the baby’s shoulder so that it can safely pass through the birth canal. Unfortunately too often, too much force is applied to the baby’s head while trying to pull it out. Pulling on the baby’s head can stretch, tear, and injure the nerves.

Erb’s palsy symptoms:

• Weakness or paralysis in the arm and hand

• Stunted growth in the arm, ranging from shoulder to fingertips causing arm length differences

• Impaired muscular, nervous and circulatory development

• A limp hand

• Inability to properly or fully use the elbow

• The infant holds a limp arm down by his side with forearm turned inward and wrist bent

• The infant can’t lift its arm up and doesn’t bring it up even when it is startled

• The infant is unable to crawl on its own

• The infant faces away from its affected arm and is unable to face forward for a length of time (Called “Torticollis”)

• Sensory loss in arm and hand

• Facial paralysis on damaged side

There are many factors that contribute to shoulder dystocia and Erb’s Palsy:

• The child might be exceptionally large with a high birth-weight
  
  
• The mother might have a small or unusually shaped pelvis
  
  
• Maternal diabetes
  
  
• Overweight Mothers
  
  
• Pregnancy beyond 40 weeks
  

Medical negligence may be the cause of an Erb’s palsy injury. Examples of medical negligence include:

• Failure of the medical staff to recognize the potential for injury and risks for shoulder dystocia.

• Failure to utilize proper maneuvers to resolve shoulder dystocia once it is recognized.

• Traumatic delivery

• Pulling down on the baby’s head to complete delivery

• Improper use of medical tools. For example, the use of forceps or vacuum extraction (meant to speed up delivery) can cause harm to the infant’s body and structure.

• The doctor’s decision to speed up labor with drugs such as cervadil, picotin, and cytotec could lead to brachial plexus paralysis.
  

At Bonina & Bonina, P.C. our experienced birth injury attorneys are willing and able to face doctors and hospitals in court and hold them accountable for Erb’s Palsy, serious injuries and wrongful deaths caused by medical negligence. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars from doctors and health care providers on behalf of injured clients.

From our offices across from the courthouse in downtown Brooklyn, we are ready to hear the story of your child’s birth injury, explain your options, and help you decide what actions you should take. The consultation is free. At Bonina & Bonina, P.C. we come to work every day believing that there should be equal justice for all. We understand your needs and we are here to help.

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