Erb's Palsy

Errors made in the delivery room during childbirth by hospital or medical staff can result in a variety of birth injury related problems. Erb's Palsy (also called Erb-Duchenne Palsy and Brachial Plexus Paralysis) is caused by an injury to the nerves between the shoulder and neck which control function of the hand and arm. Erb's Palsy causes a paralysis of the arm and can require physical therapy or surgery.

Erb's Palsy at birth is most commonly caused by shoulder Dystocia; the head is delivered but a shoulder is blocked by a part of the pelvis. Continued pulling of the head or extreme rotation of the head causes the nerves to be stretched or sometimes pulled away from the spinal cord. When Shoulder Dystocia presents there are accepted guidelines for what the doctor and nurses are to do to free the shoulder and prevent injury.

Symptoms of Erb's Palsy:

Weakness in the affected arm.
Inability to raise the affected arm overhead.
Noticeable size difference between affected arm and unaffected arm.
Loss of feeling in the affected arm.
Partial or complete paralysis of affected arm.

If negligence or medical malpractice during delivery led to Erb's Palsy or any other birth related injury, contact the malpractice lawyers at Meyers Giuffre Evans & Schwarzwaelder who have experience in the representation of children in medical malpractice birth injury cases. The lawyers in our Pittsburgh law firm are available for a free legal consultation. If you live in Western Pennsylvania but are physically unable to travel to our office, we can arrange to come to you.

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