What is Erb's Palsy?

Erb's palsy is the most common form of brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves. It is responsible for transmitting signals from the cervical spinal cord to the shoulder, arm, and hand.

In medical language “brachial” refers to the arm while “plexus” refers to a network of nerves.

Injury to the nerves of the brachial plexus can result in either partial or total paralysis of shoulder, arm, or hand muscles.

In most cases, damage to the brachial plexus happens at birth.

Erb's Palsy is a nerve injury that can hinder or limit the movement of a child's shoulder, arm, and hand.

The main cause of Erb's Palsy is too much force applied to the baby's head while trying to pull him or her out of the birth canal. When the shoulder of too large a baby is stuck in the birth canal, it is called “shoulder dystocia.”

A network of nerve fibers called the “brachial plexus,” or Erb's Point between the shoulder and the neck provide movement to the arm, hand, and fingers.

At birth, when the doctor pulls too hard on the baby's head, the nerve fibers become stretched resulting in an injury that can become permanent.

In most cases injury to these nerves are mild, and the baby eventually regains movement in a few months. Unfortunately, about 20% of Erb's palsy cases are so severe that the nerves are actually avulsed (torn from their points of attachment to the spine), or they may be ruptured, so that paralysis of the arm and shoulder is permanent.

If you believe your child acquired Erb’s palsy because of medical malpractice, please contact an Erb’s palsy attorney or doctor malpractice lawyer.

Please be aware that the law sets a time limit (called Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations) for bringing an action against a physician or obstetrician for doctor malpractice. You need to act now by consulting an Erb's palsy lawyer or attorney and ask him about your available rights and options under the law.