Erb’s Palsy is a rare birth complication which can have life-long consequences for the individual affected.
While doctors, nurses and midwives go to great lengths to protect the health and welfare of mother and baby during the birth process, on occasions injuries can occur. If such an injury is due to negligence on behalf of a medical professional, recourse may be considered.
Cerebral Palsy Claims
Our Medical Negligence Team have considerable experience in advising on such claims and securing successful outcomes.
What is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s Palsy, or Erb-Duchenne Palsy, is the name given to a type of brachial plexus injury ("BPI"), whereby an arm becomes paralysed due to damage to nerves in the upper arm.
Erb’s Palsy is typically caused in childbirth when, despite normal contractions, the baby is unable to progress through the pelvis as either the head is too large to fit through the birth canal or the shoulders are having difficulty passing through. This is referred to as dystocia. The risk of shoulder dystocia is greater if the mother has diabetes (including gestational diabetes), when labour is induced, when the labour is protracted or an assisted delivery is required (forceps or a ventouse device). Physicians will follow a set process in an effort to deliver the baby, including asking the mother to stop pushing, repositioning the mother, pressing on the abdomen and performing an episiotomy.
If shoulder dystocia occurs, the midwife or consultant must take care not to further injure the baby, however if there is too much pulling nerves of the neck and shoulder can be damaged – typically C5 and C6 nerves, which form part of the brachial plexus.
The result of an injury of this type is muscle paralysis and loss of sensation in the arm affected. Depending on the extent and type of nerve damage, recovery may be possible, however in some cases the damage is permanent.
What are the Implications of Erb's Palsy?
The long-term implications, if permanent, can range in severity from minor impairment, which can be managed and improved with physical therapy, to flaccidity and looseness or stiff and contracted arm muscles which can be extremely painful.
)