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 Surgery

Erbs palsy is a condition in which nerve damage in the neck or shoulders limits feeling and/or movement in the arm(s) and/or hand(s). While about 80 percent of all patients with an erbs palsy injury will recover without needing surgery, approximately 20 percent represent severe cases in which erbs palsy surgery will be essential.

According to studies, erbs palsy surgery has the best prognosis in children less than 12 months old. Erbs palsy patients over one year old (including adults with this condition) tend to have less than ideal results following surgical intervention.

Erbs Palsy Causes and Symptoms that Lead to Surgery

Most cases of erbs palsy result from a birth injury during which the baby's head or neck is strained due to:

breech delivery, in which babies are delivered feet first
excessive newborn weight and/or size (Larger infants are more likely to experience the birthing difficulties that can cause erbs palsy)
shoulder dystocia, during which a newborn's shoulder gets lodged behind the mother's pubic bone (Shoulder dystocia tends to occur with larger infants or when babies somehow get awkwardly positioned in the birthing canal)

While birthing complications are the most common cause of erbs palsy, other possible erbs palsy causes include:

bullet or knife wounds
car or motorcycle accidents
sports injuries (especially those incurred from contact sports, such as football or wrestling)
traumatic falls

Patients who experience any of the above should seek medical care if they begin to develop the following erbs palsy symptoms:

an inability to move or feel the hands (or fingers)
burning sensations in the arms and/or hands
loss of arm, elbow or shoulder control
moderate to severe pain in the shoulders, arms or hands.

Erbs Palsy Surgery after a Diagnosis

An erbs palsy diagnosis will usually start with a physical exam and, with children or adult patients, a discussion of the symptoms a patient has been experiencing. Subsequently, doctors will perform the following nerve function tests to evaluate whether nerve damage is causing the patient's symptoms:

Electromyography, in which needles inserted into the muscles deliver electric pulses and record the level of muscle response
Nerve conduction studies, in which electrodes placed on top of the skin deliver electric pulses to the nerves and record how appropriately the nerves respond.

Following these tests, doctors will also perform some imaging tests, typically MRIs and CT scans, to complete an erbs palsy diagnosis. The images from these tests will display the severity of an erbs palsy injury, as MRIs and CT scans depict whether a nerve has been torn, strained or completely severed.

Types of Erbs Palsy Surgeries

Whether an erbs palsy injury requires surgery will depend on the cause and severity of a patient's condition. When necessary (for more severe cases), erbs palsy surgery can include:

Nerve grafts, in which a damaged nerve is spliced with a healthy nerve taken from another part of the body
Tendon transfers, in which healthy tendons from another part of the body are relocated to the affected neck area to compensate for nerve damage.

Because nerve tissue grows slowly (about 1 inch/month), it can take years for patients to regain arm, shoulder or hand movement and sensation following erbs palsy surgery.

Other Erbs Palsy Treatments

Along with surgery, other erbs palsy treatments can include:

pain medication
antidepressant and/or anti-epileptic medication
erbs palsy physical therapy (during which patients regularly practice exercises and receive massages to stimulate nerve and muscle health)
erbs palsy therapy (during which patients can deal with the emotional effects of their impairment)

Have you or a loved one been affected by an erbs palsy injury? 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!