subject: Erb's Palsy Injuries Might Be Due To Medical Malpractice And Lead To A Lawsuit [print this page] Erbs palsy is an injury that can affect an infant's shoulder, arm and hand, leaving the baby with a limp arm. An Erb's palsy injury can arise during childbirth if excessive force is used, damaging the nerves in the shoulder. In case your child is affected with Erbs palsy you should contact a lawyer immediately to learn if you and your newborn have a malpractice claim against the doctor responsible for the injury. Erb's palsy is an injury to the system of nerve fibers that send signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm, wrist, hand and fingers, and hence affects control of movement and feeling in those areas.
It is an injury that usually happens to babies in the course of a difficult natural delivery on account of too much pressure applied to the head, neck or shoulders. The types of deliveries in which a baby is has the greatest risk of being injured in this manner include those with a large baby, breeched position or prolonged labor. When one of the conditions arises, the physician or other health care professional may employ maneuvers (sometimes including forceps or a vacuum) that may result in excessive pulling on the shoulders in the course of a headfirst delivery or place too much pressure on the arm and shoulder during a breech delivery.
Depending on the nature and magnitude of the injury, potential symptoms of Erbs palsy can include: (1) a lack of muscle control and of feeling in the arm or hand, (2) an inability to use the shoulder or elbow, (3) low grip strength, or (4) a paralysis of the arm, hand and fingers. Generally, the newborn will present with what can be referred to as a limp arm. Basically, the arm hangs limp and is rotated internally. Because of the loss of use, the arm may appear underdeveloped as compared to the normal arm. Infants with Erbs palsy may display several other symptoms associated with issues with blood flow, such as skin rashes, slow healing, as well as a susceptibility to infections.
Many babies suffering from Erbs palsy make a full recovery within six months, oftentimes after physical therapy. In situations involving an actual rupturing or tearing of the nerves, surgery might be needed, perhaps including tendon transfers to compensate for nerves that no longer function. If an operation fails to take care of the injury, the baby could be left with irreversible, partial, or total loss of functionality of the damaged nerves, resulting in paralysis of the arm or arm weakness.
Should your suffers from Erbs Palsy you should immediately contact a medical malpractice lawyer to establish whether you and your child might have a lawsuit against the physician or other medical care professional responsible for your baby's injury. Keep in mind that the law restricts the amount of time a plaintiff has to pursue a claim. Consult with an attorney regarding how much time may be left.
by: Joseph Hernandez
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