Erb’s Palsy Lawyers NJ

What Is Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s Palsy, sometimes known as Erb-Duchenne Palsy, is the result of a stretch injury to the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves in the neck that is responsible for all of the nerves contained in the arms. The brachial plexus is made up of five roots from spinal nerves that extend from the spinal cord in the neck. The nerve roots extend downward through the arm pit to meet the area behind the collar bone. These nerves then form branches that enable the movement of the shoulder, arm and hand. The nerves are also responsible for allowing movements and sensation in the hand, arm and fingers.

Erb’s Palsy Injuries During Delivery

Erb’s Palsy can be caused by the actions of the medical staff during the birthing process resulting in significant damage to the baby’s nervous system. In many such cases, the baby’s shoulder became stuck on the mother’s pelvic bone during a difficult delivery, a condition known as shoulder dystocia. When the baby’s shoulder becomes stuck, traction should no longer be applied to the baby’s head, because the stuck shoulder with traction can result in stretching and tearing of the brachial plexus nerves in the neck, resulting in Erb’s Palsy. However, some medical professionals fail to follow the appropriate procedures or identify the shoulder dystocia, resulting in excessive traction and permanent injury to the brachial plexus nerves.

In addition to injuries caused by force, Erb’s Palsy can also result from the use of forceps, a vacuum or other tools that are designed to assist with removing the baby from the birth canal. Certain studies have also indicated that the drugs given to the mother during the delivery process can also increase the risk of developing Erb’s Palsy.

When a child is diagnosed with Erb’s Palsy, there can be many long-lasting effects. In certain cases, the child may never be able to regain full use of the affected arm. Our Erb’s Palsy lawyers understand how devastating a diagnosis of Erb’s Palsy can be and we work with clients in order to obtain the compensation that is needed to battle this difficult diagnosis.