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Posted on 20th August 2019
What is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s Palsy is also known as Brachial Plexus Paralysis and is generally caused by trauma at birth. In some cases this can lead to a birth injury claim or more specifically an Erb’s Palsy claim. Erb’s Palsy is a condition that restricts movement and feeling in an arm. There are 5 primary nerves that supply movement to the arm, and damage to any or all of those nerves can cause paralysis or the loss of feeling in the arm.
What nerve damage can be sustained with Erb’s Palsy?
- Neuropraxia – this is the most common type of neural injury. The nerve is stretched or shocked but there is no tear, meaning it normally heals on it’s own.
- Neuroma – this is a more serious stretch which can result in scar tissue forming. The scar tissue can press on the healthy nerves causing partial paralysis.
- Rupture – a tear in the nerve resulting in a stretch injury. This usually requires surgery to repair the tear.
- Avulsions – This is the most severe nerve injury. This occurs when a nerve is torn from the spinal cord. It can be repaired with surgery, but only by using part of a healthy nerve.
What are the causes of Erb’s Palsy?
The condition can be caused during a natural birth where there is excessive pulling on the baby’s shoulders where delivery is head first, or by pressure on the baby’s arms where the delivery is feet first. It can also be caused when a baby has broad shoulders, and one of the shoulders is held back by the mother’s pubic bone during the delivery process. In some cases you will be able to receive Erb’s Palsy compensation.
What are the symptoms of Erb’s Palsy?
- Weakness in one arm
- Arm is bent at elbow and held against body
- Decreased grip strength in hand of the affected side
- Numbness in arm
- Impaired circulatory, muscular and nervous development
- Partial or total paralysis of the arm
If you need to make an Erb’s Palsy claim for compensation, call a specialist Erb’s Palsy solicitor at Blackwater Law. We offer free initial advice and if we take on the case, will do so on a no win no fee basis.
Blackwater Law successfully represented the family of baby Blake in making a midwife negligence claim after the community midwife failed to notice a severe medical abnormality.
