Erbs Palsy

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Erbs Palsy Tests

Also known as brachial plexus injury, erbs palsy is a nervous disorder that impairs the feeling and/or movement in one or both of a person's arms. While a car accident or a sports related injury can cause erbs palsy, in most cases, babies are born with this condition due to an injury sustained during the birthing process.

When doctors suspect that a patient has erbs palsy, they will use some combination of imaging exams and nerve tests to make an official diagnosis.

Nerve Health Tests for Erbs Palsy

Nerve health tests for erbs palsy take a closer look at how responsive and sensitive the body's nerves are in the neck, shoulder and arm regions. In general, doctors will test the health of a patient's nerves by using a(n):

Electromyography (EMG): This erbs palsy test examines how well the muscles' nerves are functioning. To perform an EMG, doctors insert small needle-like electrodes into the muscle and then ask patients to contract and relax that muscle. During these contractions, the electrodes measure the nerves' electrical impulses, giving doctors a better idea of how damaged the nerves really are.

Although some patients find the insertion of electrodes to be painful, many have no problem completing this erbs palsy test.
Nerve conduction study: To identify how responsive nerves are, doctors will conduct this erbs palsy test, which starts with electrode patches being placed on the skin over questionably damaged areas (i.e. the neck, shoulders and arms). To stimulate the nerves, a series of electric currents (of varied strengths) are emitted through the patches.

While stronger electric stimulations can be mildly painful, patients undergoing this erbs palsy test won't feel any residual pain once the test is done.

Imaging Tests for Erbs Palsy

Along with determining the health of the nerves, doctors will also need to see the internal structure of damaged areas to find out how severe a case of erbs palsy is. To "see" internally, the following imaging tests are used during an erbs palsy diagnosis:

Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI): Used as a diagnostic test for a variety of diseases and conditions, MRIs use radio waves within a magnetic field to create an image of a particular part of the body. With MRIs, doctors can see whether a nerve is torn or entirely disconnected from the spine.

This erbs palsy test is painless, but it can cause some to experience claustrophobia, as it is performed within a tightly enclosed space.
Computerized tomography (CT) myelography: To obtain a detailed image of the spine and its connecting nerves, a CT myelography begins with an anesthetized spinal tap that includes contrasting dyes. Following this injection, doctors will use a CT scanner to take a series of spinal x-rays.

The dye and spinal tap can have some negative side effects, including headache, nausea and pain/pressure at the site of the injection. Given these side effects and the invasive nature of this erbs palsy test, it is typically used only when MRIs cannot generate clear-enough images.

Upon the official diagnosis of erbs palsy, doctors will prescribe a treatment regimen – including medications and physical therapy – that will be specific to the individual case.

Contact an erbs palsy attorney for more information and resources regarding erbs palsy.

Medical Malpractice Breaking News

"Malpractice Caused Erb's Palsy"

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