Michigan Erb’s Palsy Attorneys

Know Your Options After an Erb's Palsy Birth Injury

Childbirth is a difficult process, and labor can be extremely traumatic for both infant and mother. It’s estimated that between 1 and 2 out of every 1,000 live births involves some form of brachial plexus damage. However, not all instances of brachial plexus damage will result in a lifelong Erb’s palsy diagnosis. In fact, many of these injuries can be improved or eliminated with time, physical therapy, and care.

This is because most brachial plexus injuries only damage parts of these essential nerves. It’s critical that doctors accurately recognize this disorder and provide prompt treatment, which can eliminate the risk of lifelong injury. According to a recent study, the rate of recovery may be as high as 96% when treatment is given within 2 weeks following birth. If your child has Erb’s palsy for the long term, their muscles weakness or paralysis may be a result of medical negligence. Grewal Law PLLC can help you determine if you have a birth injury case and help you find answers.

What Causes Brachial Plexus Damage?   

Some of the top causes for a brachial plexus injury in infants:

• Prolonged or delayed delivery
• Shoulder dystocia
• Improper use of forceps, vacuums, and other medical tools
• Breech presentation delivery
• Infants with high birth weight
• Late or high-risk pregnancy

Whatever the exact scenario involved, brachial plexus damage often involves a medical professional moving your baby’s head in order to pull the baby out. Erb’s palsy occurs when nerves are stretched or ruptured as a result, usually nerves around the spine.

Symptoms of Erb’s Palsy

If your child has sustained brachial plexus damage such that they have Erb’s palsy, then usually their hand muscles are fine, but the muscles in the elbow, arm, and shoulder could be compromised.

Warning signs of Erb’s palsy can include:

• Limp elbow, arm, or shoulder
• Paralyzed elbow, arm, or shoulder
• Numb arm or hand
• “Waiter’s tip” hand, with palm facing the back and fingers curled up

With an EMG and imaging tests, a doctor would confirm a diagnosis of Erb’s palsy.

Treatments for Erb's Palsy in Babies

If your child has Erb’s palsy, then nerve grafts, nerve decompression, and some other treatments in conjunction with physical therapy may be prescribed. In other cases, a muscle or tendon could be moved from one part of the body to the weakened area, and these could eventually provide recovery.

Whatever the prognosis is, the road ahead for a newborn with Erb’s palsy can be a long and costly one, and if negligence is behind this preventable injury, then the families dealing with the aftermath of brachial plexus damage shouldn’t have to deal with this alone. Our Michigan birth injury lawyers have more than a century of collective experience with which to help you find the answers and compensation you need.

Request your free consultation online or call our Michigan Erb's palsy lawyers at (888) 211-5798 today.