Brachial Plexus Birth Injury Lawyers
If your child suffers from Erb’s Palsy, otherwise known as Brachial Plexus Birth Injury, as a result of your doctor’s negligence during childbirth, you may have a legal right to recover. Talking to a birth injury lawyer may enable you to recover for past and future medical costs as well as for the physical and emotional pain that accompanies this injury. Call Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. today for a free consultation: (713) 932-0777.
What is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s Palsy is an injury to the nerves that run from the neck down to the shoulders and extremities. This area of nerves is known as the Brachial Plexus. Palsy means “weakness.” In this case, the condition is a weakness in the shoulder and/or arm.
What is Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy?
Erbs Palsy that occurs during childbirth is also known as Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy. This is more common in difficult deliveries involving large babies, prolonged labor, and/or babies in breach. It can occur in several ways as a result of childbirth injuries, including:
- When the baby’s head is to the side as its shoulders move through the birth canal and the arm is pulled in an opposite direction
- Pressure on the arms during a breech (feet-first) delivery
- When the doctor uses too much force pulling on the shoulders while trying to pull the baby from the birth canal during a cephalic (head-first) delivery.
Approximately 1-2 out of every 1000 babies are born with some degree of Erb’s Palsy. If your baby sustains serious or permanent Brachia Plexus Birth Palsy, you should speak with a birth injury attorney regarding your case.
What Causes Erbs Palsy in Adults?
The occurrence of Erb’s Palsy in adults is infrequent. However, there are several ways in which this type of injury may occur:
- Trauma to the head and/or shoulder resulting in the pulling apart/tearing of the nerves
- Improper traction treatment for a shoulder dislocation
- Violent injuries
It should be noted that if you suffer from permanent Erb’s Palsy as a result of improperly implemented traction by a medical professional, you should consult a medical malpractice attorney to discuss your rights.
Degrees of Erbs Palsy
There are four different types of nerve injuries that can affect the brachial plexus.
- Neurapraxia is a common stretching injury to the nerve. Typically, these injuries heal up in a matter of months and do not have long-lasting effects.
- Neuroma is slightly more than Neurapraxia injury in that it stretches and damages the nerve fibers to the degree that scar tissue may form. This injury will improve with physical therapy and proper treatment but will not likely return to its pre-injury condition.
- Rupture occurs when the nerve itself is torn. This may or may not be repairable by way of surgery but it will not heal on its own.
- Avulsion occurs when the nerve is torn away from the spinal cord. A nerve cannot be re-grafted to the spinal cord but there are some surgery options to improve arm function.
What are the Symptoms of Erbs Palsy?
The inability to move the arm is a common indicator of Erb’s Palsy. In the case of babies, the arm is often turned inward and the baby will not move it despite being able to wiggle its fingers. Weakness in the arm, loss of feeling in the arm, and complete or partial paralysis of the arm are other symptoms that may indicate Erb’s Palsy. Children growing up with permanent Erb’s Palsy may have one arm visibly shorter than the other since nerves are related to growth and development.
Free Legal Consultation
Erbs’ Palsy is a life-long condition that may require significant accommodations and medical care. The disabling effects will vary from patient to patient. If you suspect that your child suffered Erb’s Palsy as a result of a doctor’s medical malpractice, call us today for a free consultation. If we take your case, we charge no fees unless we make a recovery. (713) 932-0777.
*This information is for education purposes. None of the information on this page is intended as medical or legal advice. No attorney-client privilege or relationship is hereby created.