What Causes Brachial Plexus Damage?

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. 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 also 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.

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