Erb's Palsy can result in severe disability and is caused by injury to the nervous system which may be as a result of medical negligence that allowed the child to be subjected to excessive trauma during delivery. Thousands of children every year suffer from Erb's Palsy, the common name for the medical condition known as Brachial Plexus Palsy. Ninety percent of Erb's Palsy cases occur because of traumatic stretching of the infant's plexus during birth. The condition is caused by an injury to the brachial plexus, which is a network of nerves that run from the spine to the tips of the fingers. Children with brachial plexus injuries are affected in different ways. The nerve damage caused by this stretching can result in paralysis, lack of muscle control, and loss of sensation in the arms and hands.

Different injuries may cause the same symptoms and it is difficult to know what kind of injury has occurred. There are four types of Erb's Palsy injuries:

• An avulsion: the nerve is torn from the spine.
• A rupture: the nerve is torn but not where it attaches to the spine.
• A neuroma: occurs where scar tissue has grown around the injury putting pressure on the nerve resulting in reduction of signals to the muscles.
• Praxis: the nerve has been damaged but not torn. These injuries usually heal on their own within 3 months.

Known and recognized risk-factors associated with Erb's palsy/brachial plexus injuries exist and failure by medical personnel to recognize these risk-factors and act appropriately often leads to a finding of medical negligence. Risk-factors recognized to predispose a child to Erb's Palsy/Brachial Plexus includes:

• Failure to estimate the baby's weight before delivery.
• Failure to perform a caesarean section.
• Failure to diagnose and treat maternal diabetes.
• Failure to inform of the risks in vaginal delivery of a large baby.
• Failure to follow established methods to manage shoulder dystocia.
• Applying unnecessary and excessive force during the delivery.

If you think your child is suffering from Erb's Palsy due to medical negligence you should strongly consider seeking legal advice. Call us now for a free consultation.