What is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s Palsy is a well-known kind of injury which can happen at the time of a baby’s birth. Erb’s Palsy usually happens because of a shoulder dystocia birth injury. Another name for Erb’s Palsy is Brachial Plexus Palsy.
A brachial plexus injury, (or “BPI”, or “Erb’s Palsy”) is an injury to the large network of nerves within the human body known as the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus runs from the spinal column to all of the muscles in the shoulders and arms. The brachial plexus network conducts signals from the spine to the arm and hand, causing the arm and hand to move.
Children born with BPI may suffer partial or total paralysis of these parts of the body. BPI is commonly associated with a problematic birth. A common cause of BPI is shoulder dystocia. Shoulder dystocia refers to the lodging of one or both of the baby’s shoulders behind the mother’s pubic bone during birth. In most cases where a baby is too large for vaginal delivery, this situation can be avoided by delivering the baby by Caesarian section. If a doctor delivers the baby vaginally by using too much force, or by using extraordinary measures, stretching or tearing of the nerves may result. A brachial plexus injury is severe, and a child with BPI may need prolonged therapy and, in extreme cases, may need surgery.
Parents of children with erb’s palsy are often left with the incorrect impression that their child simply has a birth defect that could not have been prevented.
If your baby has Erb’s Palsy due to medical negligence, Goldberg & Osborne can help you decide if you have a claim against the attending physician.
A brachial plexus lawsuit can be an effective deterrent against unreasonably dangerous or negligent doctors. In most cases, in order to be successful in an Erb’s Palsy lawsuit, the breach of the standard of care, causation and damages must be evaluated. A brachial plexus lawyer can help evaluate a claim against a doctor, nurse or hospital.
If you have inquiries about Erb’s Palsy or need assistance determing whether you have a claim, please contact Goldberg & Osborne as soon as possible. You will receive a free evaluation of your medical negligence case. Please call us at (800) 318-6316. Or contact us by filling out and submitting our short online form. We will contact you shortly and give you a free evaluation. Immediate attention to this matter is vital, as each state has set limits as to how long a client has to file a claim from the time their child’s injuries happened.
