Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney - Article

Erb's Palsy

Causes of Erb’s Palsy

This serious medical condition is almost always inflicted on infants during childbirth. If childbirth is unusual or difficult, resulting in the infant’s body being put at an unusual angle during birth, the infant may sustain damage to important nerves in its upper arm. This damage can cause partial or total paralysis in the affected arm, a condition known as Erb’s palsy.

Damage that causes Erb’s palsy is not necessarily the result of medical negligence. Complications or conditions can arise that are not the fault of medical staff. However, this condition can result if an obstetrician is too rough or forceful while trying to remove the infant during birth.

It is also possible for a person to develop Erb’s palsy as an adult, although it is rare. Traumatic injury to the neck, usually caused by a fall, can create this condition.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the extent of damage that was done to the nerves. Sometimes the paralysis is only partial, meaning sensation and function are impaired, while sometimes it is complete, meaning sensation and function are lost entirely.

Nerve damage also impairs the affect arm’s ability to develop, often making it noticeably smaller and weaker than the person’s other arm. Poor circulation can make it difficult for the body to regulate temperature in the affected arm, which can be dangerous during cold winter months.

Treatment

Erb’s palsy patients vary widely in the type of treatment they require. Sometimes the condition resolves itself over time and no medical intervention is needed at all. Physical therapy is often required to help the patient develop more strength in the affected arm. Surgery is an option for the more extreme cases, though surgical procedures do not always fully cure Erb’s palsy.

Contact Us

If your child suffers from Erb’s palsy because of a mistake made by an obstetrician, contact Chicago medical malpractice attorneys Friedman & Bonebrake at (312) 466-8200.