Certain factors can suggest a
higher risk of Erb's Palsy. Those factors are:
- High weight baby -- more than
8 lbs. 14 oz
- Maternal diabetes
- Maternal obesity
- Overdue pregnancy
- Short maternal stature
- Platypelliod, or contracted or
flat pelvis
- More than 35 lbs. Of weight
gained by the mother
- Protracted first stage of
labor
- Breech or other abnormal
presentation of a fetus, while not a risk factor, but it can
result in such an “injury.”
The initial symptoms will likely
be a limp or paralyzed arm or lack of muscle control in the arm
or hand. Erb's Palsy sufferers normally will not be abmile to
lift their arm above their head and will have difficulty
gripping with the affected hand. Injuries that involve nerves
below the elbow have a lower rate of improvement because of the
location of the nerves and the distance that they need to
regenerate.
Although a full recovery is not
realistic in such cases, the goals for a child with Erb's Palsy
are for them to have at least partial use of the affected arm or
hand. Feeding one's self or using the affected arm or hand to
help the other arm lift and carry things is realistic. Children
suffering from Erb's Palsy can take anywhere from 3 to 24 months
to recover. In general, by the age of two, a child will make all
the improvements that he/she is going to make. Early treatment
is critical.
Treatment is usually performed by
physical therapists that work with children to help increase
their range of movement. Therapists also encourage parents to
perform daily exercises at the child's home in order to keep the
muscles and joints limber. Such exercises should be performed
two to three times per week for several years.
Electrical stimulation is often
performed in order to prevent atrophy. Surgery may be an option
for those children who do not improve through the use of
standard treatments.
Actions taken that can contribute
to Erb's Palsy
-
Failure to estimate the baby's
weight before delivery
-
Failure to perform a C-section
when warranted
-
Failure to diagnose and treat
gestational diabetes
-
Failure to inform parents of the
risks associated with delivering a large baby
-
Use of excessive force during the
delivery
In order to establish that a
doctor failed to act in a manner consistent with good medical
practices, it must be shown that a competent doctor would have
acted differently in order to prevent injuring the child.
Additionally, actual damages must be proven. It must be shown
that the alleged negligence caused the Erb's Palsy injuries.
Damages include medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss
of future earnings.
If you feel that your child
suffers from Erb's Palsy due to the actions of a medical staff,
please call us immediately at (312) 977-9900 or fill out our
contact form. We will
evaluate your case at no charge and insure that your legal
rights are preserved and that you receive fast, individualized
representation.
For more information on Erb's
Palsy, including common questions and answers, please click
here.
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