Erbs Palsy

This is an injury that can be caused at birth and often times is the result of medical negligence. There are specific protocols doctors and mid wives are trained to follow when they encounter a birth emergency such as the baby becoming stuck due to the shoulders not passing through the birth canal. The various protocols include:

McRoberts Maneuver: Where the mother is repositioned and flexing knees to abdomen

Surapubic Pressure: Where push pressure is asserted over the mother's abdomen.

Wood's or Cork Screw Maneuver: Rotating the child's upper shoulder downward and the downward shoulder up ward.

C- Section: Which is extracting the baby through surgery.

There are four major types of injuries which occur to the nerves in the brachial plexus network which can result in some form of palsy:

1. an avulsion meaning the nerve is torn from the spine.

2. a rupture meaning the nerve is torn but not where it attaches to the spine.

3. a neuroma meaning the nerve has tried to heal but scar tissue has grown around the injury placing pressure on the injured nerve praxis. While the nerve has been damaged, it has not been torn and improvement should be seen within 3 months.

4. Neuropraxia is the mildest form of nerve injury. Neuropraxia, the most common form of Erb's Palsy is localized to the specific place where the injury occurs. It is a physiologic block of nerve conduction within an axon without any anatomical interruption. Many infants born with brachial plexus palsy have neuropraxia and sometimes recover within 4-6 weeks.

If you are not sure if negligence was involved in your baby's injury call my office. We will investigate the cause for you and provide those answers at no cost to you. 1-888-760-7339.