Chicago Erb’s Palsy and Brachial Plexus Lawyers
Erb’s Palsy (a form of brachial plexus palsy) is a paralysis of a child’s shoulder, arm and hand caused by injury to the upper section of the arm’s main nerves (specifically, spinal roots C5-C7). Erb’s Palsy can occur during child birth, and is often preventable with appropriate medical care.
Depending on the nerve damage, Erb’s Palsy may resolve on its own after several months, or it may become a permanent injury. If you suspect that your child’s Erb’s palsy was caused by medical negligence or malpractice, call us at (312) 527-4500 for a free consultation.
Causes of Erb’s Palsy
The most common cause of Erb’s Palsy is an abnormal or difficult labor or delivery, involving a stretch injury to the baby’s brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves near the neck that give rise to all the nerves of the arm. These nerves provide movement and feeling to the arm, hand, and fingers.
Brachial plexus injuries in newborns usually occur with a breech presentation or a prolonged labor. Erb’s Palsy often occurs if too much force is placed on the infant’s head, and the neck is pulled toward the side at the same time as the baby’s shoulders pass through the birth canal. The condition can also be caused by excessive pulling on the shoulders during a vertex delivery (head first).
Additionally, Erb’s Palsy often occurs where the baby is too large to fit easily through the birth canal. When the baby’s shoulder gets stuck in the birth canal, this is referred to as “shoulder dystocia.”
Injury to the Baby’s Brachial Plexus
Complications of Erb’s Palsy include permanent, partial, or total loss of function of the affected nerves, causing paralysis of the arm or arm weakness. Depending on the nature of the damage, the paralysis can either resolve on its own over a period of months, or may require nerve surgery and involve permanent injury.
The injury may leave patients with stunted growth in the affected arm, including everything from the shoulder though to the fingertips. Erb’s Palsy may also cause impaired muscular, nervous and circulatory development in affected children.
Contact a Chicago Erb’s Palsy Lawyer
If your baby or child suffers from Erb’s Palsy as a result of a birth complication, contact a Top Chicago Erb’s Palsy Attorney at Passen & Powell. For a free consultation, call us at (312) 527-4500 or fill out a Free Case Evaluation.
