Erbs Palsy

Need Help?

Contact Us Today

Call Today: 800-905-5988

I agree that submitting this form and the information contained within does not establish an attorney client relationship.

Privacy protected. All information held in the strictest confidence.

Erbs Palsy Definition

Also referred to as brachial plexus injury, erbs palsy is a condition in which nerve damage in the neck and/or shoulders impairs movement and sensation in some part of the hand(s) and/or arm(s).

In most cases, erbs palsy results from birthing difficulties during which newborns' heads or necks are somehow strained as they are being delivered. Less often, an erbs palsy injury will develop following a:

bullet or knife wound
car or motorcycle accident
fall
sports-related injury (particularly football or wrestling injuries).

Although minor erbs palsy injuries will typically clear up on their own, more severe cases may require long-term treatment. In especially serious cases of erbs palsy, patients may never fully recover feeling or movement in the affected arm.

Erbs Palsy Symptoms

While erbs palsy symptoms will vary according to the cause and severity of an individual's condition, most affected patients will experience some combination of:

an inability to move or feel the arm
burning sensations that shoot down the arm (Some patients describe this erbs palsy symptom as an "electric shock" down their arms.)
loss of control over the hands and fingers
loss of shoulder and/or elbow control
pain

Erbs Palsy Diagnosis

An initial physical exam, along with a discussion of symptoms, is generally the first step of an erbs palsy diagnosis. If a doctor suspects that a patient has erbs palsy, he can confirm (or rule out) an erbs palsy injury by performing a(n):

Electromyography, a nerve-function test in which needles inserted into the arms' muscles deliver electric currents to the muscles to evaluate how appropriately they respond.
Nerve conduction test, during which nerve function is tested via electric shocks delivered through electrodes placed on top of the skin.

Should these tests indicate the presence of nerve damage, doctors will likely call for one (or both) of the following imaging tests so they can evaluate the severity of the condition:

Computerized tomography (CT) scan, an imaging test that includes a spinal tap of contrasting dye (Once the dye is injected and has circulated throughout a patient's system, x-rays are taken to evaluate nerve and/or spinal health.)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), an imaging test in which magnetic fields create a picture of the body's internal structure.

Erbs Palsy Treatment

Following a confirmed erbs palsy diagnosis, patients will need to begin treatment immediately for the best chances of full recovery. While the precise course of erbs palsy treatment will vary according to the severity of an individual's condition, most patients will be prescribed some combination of:

antidepressant and/or anticonvulsant medication
massage
pain medication
physical therapy
surgery, which can involve nerve grafts and/or tendon transfers
transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS), a process in which low level electric pulses are deliver to the damaged area via electrodes placed on the skin

Doctors may also recommend therapy for patients who develop more severe erbs palsy injuries later in life. Therapy can help affected individuals come to terms with their recent impairments.

Was your baby born with erbs palsy? If so, contact an erbs palsy attorney today for more information and resources regarding erbs palsy injuries.

Medical Malpractice Breaking News

"Malpractice Caused Erb's Palsy"

The parents of a boy born with Erb's palsy have filed a lawsuit claiming their child suffered from shoulder dystocia at birth and was born ...

» Read More

Online Lawyer Source

Lawyers & Legal News Near You

Need Legal Help?

Start Here for a Free Case Review!