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Green Bay Birth Injury Lawyer

Erb’s Palsy

Erb’s Palsy is a condition that results in some level of paralysis. It was first named by two doctors hence the full name Erb-Duchenne Palsy. It is also known as Brachial Plexus Paralysis.

Erb’s Palsy is a condition, mainly due to birth trauma, in which there is damage of some sort to the nerves that supply the movement and feeling to the arm. It can affect as few as 1 of the nerves to as many as all 5 of the nerves. The condition can heal itself without medical intervention or it may require surgical correction. A lot of babies recover on their own but some may require the intervention of a specialist.

The most common cause of Erb’s Palsy is dystocia, an abnormal or difficult childbirth or labor. It can occur if the infant’s head and neck are pulled toward the side at the same time as the shoulders pass through the birth canal. It can also by caused by excessive pulling on the shoulders or by pressure on the raised arms during a breech delivery.

Paralysis can be partial or complete. The degree of paralysis depends on the degree of damage to the nerve. The nerve damage can be anywhere from bruising to tearing. The most commonly affected nerve is C5 as it is furthest from the center of the body which makes it more vulnerable to injury.

If your baby has been affected by Erb’s Palsy, contact the Green Bay birth injury lawyers of Habush, Habush, & Rottier, S.C. at 1-800-757-8644 to discuss your case and to schedule an initial consultation.