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Ninety percent of all Erbs palsy injury cases in children are the result of child birth complications, particularly shoulder dystocia. Shoulder dystocia is a birth complication that occurs when a child’s shoulders get impacted on a mother’s pelvic bones. An Erbs palsy injury affects approximately one to two babies for every one thousand births. There are several factors that can increase the risk for an Erbs palsy injury during child birth. In many cases an Erbs palsy injury is a preventable condition.
An Erbs palsy injury involves damage to the nerves of the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves extending bilaterally from the shoulders to the upper extremities. When a person suffers an Erbs palsy injury they can experience the following symptoms: limpness, paralysis, loss of muscle control, and decreased sensation in the affected parts of the upper extremities.
There are four types of Erbs palsy injury cases. An Erbs palsy injury can be the result of nerve stretch without tearing, which may have the greatest chance of self healing. An Erbs palsy injury can be caused by an actual tear in the nerves but not where they attach to the spine. Scar tissue that develops on the affected nerves can also contribute to an Erbs palsy injury. In more severe cases, an Erbs palsy injury is the result of avulsion, or the complete tearing of the nerves away from the spine.
Erbs palsy injury recovery often depends on the type and extent of the damage to the affected nerves and the individual’s rate of recovery. Approximately eighty percent of all Erbs palsy injury cases will recover without medical intervention. In other cases, an Erbs palsy injury will require medical treatment. Surgery is a viable option in some Erbs palsy injury cases to restore feeling and function to the affected extremities.
Erbs palsy injury surgery is most effective when performed between four and twelve months. After one year, surgery for an Erbs palsy injury tends to be less effective. Surgery is performed by a pediatric neurosurgeon using a variety of special medical equipment. Depending on the nature of the Erbs palsy injury, multiple procedures may need to be performed. Erbs palsy injury studies have shown that restoration of function to the upper extremities is likely in 85 to 90 percent of surgery cases and 50 to 60 percent successful for recovery in the lower extremities. Surgery to improve an Erbs palsy injury very rarely results in a worsening of a patient’s condition.
Other medical treatments can also restore function and feeling in an Erbs palsy injury patient. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and hydrotherapy are particularly useful in improving range of motion, strength, and functionality in affected muscles. By age two, an Erbs palsy injury victim does not generally experience any drastic improvement to his or her condition. Long term impairment from an Erbs palsy injury may require special adaptive equipment and lifestyle modifications.
In many cases, an Erbs palsy injury can be prevented. To learn more about your rights and options in an Erbs palsy injury case, you may wish to speak with a qualified attorney.
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 ...
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