Birth Injury Lawyers - Erb's Palsy

Erb’s palsy is a form of Cerebral palsy that occurs when a group of nerves traveling from the spinal cord into the arm are torn or ruptured. This damage can cut off nervous impulses to the arm and hand and leave the victims with paralysis, limited movement or loss of sensation.

This condition commonly affects babies who have a higher-than average birth weight because they can be harder to deliver and forceps or vacuum devices may have to be used. When these are used with too much force, they can damage the nerves when the baby's head, neck and shoulders are coming out of the birth canal.

Prudent doctors will often perform a C-section to avoid these injuries. But if they don't, they should have the experience and training necessary to know when too much force is being used and to know how to use proper obstetrical procedures when delivering the baby. It is sometimes necessary to file a medical malpractice claim against the physician responsible. If you believe this has happened to your child, you should contact our birth injury lawyers immediately.

Types of Erb’s Palsy

There are four types of Erb’s palsy, each characterized by its level of nerve damage:

1. Avulsion: when the nerve is torn away from the spine
2. Rupture: when the nerve is torn, but not where it’s attached to the spine
3. Neuroma: when scar tissue surrounding a nerve puts pressure on it, hindering its ability to send electrical impulses
4. Praxis: when the nerve is damaged but not torn and is able to heal on its own.

Common Symptoms

If you notice that your child has any of the following symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with a birth injury lawyer: 

• Limpness in the baby’s arm
• Holding the affected arm close to the body
• Inability to move the arm, hand or fingers

If your child suffers from Erb's palsy and you suspect negligence was the cause, you should hire an experienced attorney to assess the situation. You may have a valid medical malpractice claim. The birth injury lawyers of Snyder & Wenner, P.C. have access to the medical experts necessary to support valid claims.

We serve the entire Phoenix, AZ area and beyond. If you're in this area, we'll be glad to schedule a free case evaluation at our Phoenix office. If you live elsewhere, we can do it over the phone. In both cases, we can begin protecting the rights of both you and your child immediately, and building a case for you. Our birth injury lawyers travel all over the country, so call or email us today.