There are many birth injuries that can occur due to issues in the labor and delivery ward. Herbs palsy is one of the most common. Medical researchers estimate that as many as one or two out of every 1,000 live births in the United States result in a child developing Erb’s palsy.
The good news for those shocked by a child diagnosis with a birth injury is that Erb’s palsy is usually only a temporary condition. Most of the time, symptoms dissipate with proper treatment. Most children overcome their symptoms within a year or two of diagnosis. However, parents have to ensure that children get treatment as early as possible to ensure optimal recovery.
What are the symptoms of Erb’s palsy?
The main symptom of Erb’s palsy is weakness in one arm. Erb’s palsy, also known as brachial plexus palsy, is essentially a nerve injury to the tissue near the neck. It may occur during an assisted delivery involving forceps or a doctor manually assisting a delivery. Erb’s palsy is more common in cases where babies have high birth weights.
The first symptoms of Erb’s palsy are often weakness and reduced range of motion on one side of the body. A baby may favor one arm over the other or be completely unable to use one arm the way they use the other. They may not be able to move their shoulder, but they may still be able to use the fingers or hand on the affected arm.
Erb’s palsy can prove relatively expensive for the family. The baby may need to undergo medical treatment and regular physical therapy to make a full recovery. The parent or primary caregiver of the child also has to assist with regular exercises. The family may need to pay more for specialized childcare, or one parent may need to take an extended leave of absence from work to support the child during the recovery.
Families affected by Erb’s palsy may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit because the birth injury is often preventable. Connecting an infant’s Erb’s palsy diagnosis to inappropriate or poorly-performed birth interventions can help families pursue compensation after their child’s diagnosis.