Erb’s palsy is a serious illness that can arise as a result of damage to the nervous system. Specifically, it is a spinal cord injury that can develop when the brachial plexus, which is a network of nerves in the neck, is damaged or injured.
If your child was diagnosed with Erb’s palsy after birth, you may want to consider if medical malpractice or negligence on the part of a doctor or delivery team may have caused or contributed to your child’s case.
If you are wondering whether your child’s Erb’s palsy diagnosis was a result of natural factors or the errors, incompetence, or negligence of the medical care providers who were responsible for caring for the mother and her child during pregnancy, during birth, and soon after birth, call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group.
Our firm represents Fayetteville families in Erb’s palsy medical malpractice cases. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case and your legal options with a member of our team when you call our firm at (800) 222-9529.
A Fayetteville Erb’s palsy lawyer may be able to offer you representation on a contingency-fee-basis with no up-front payment required.
Types of Erb’s Palsy
The brachial plexus controls sensation and movement in the shoulder, arms, wrists, hands, and fingers. Injury to it can occur in several ways, such as excessive force during delivery or the incorrect use of delivery devices to extract a baby from the mother.
When it comes to Erb’s palsy and the various forms of paralysis and disability that are associated with it, they can develop from four main forms of brachial plexus damage:
An avulsion injury: When the nerve root is torn and detached from the spinal cord. This is the most serious type of Erb’s palsy and brachial plexus injury.
A rupture: When a nerve tears but not where it is connected to the spine. The severity of such cases depends on the extent of damage and where along the nerve it occurred.
Neuromas: When a torn nerve heals but leaves scar tissue in its place, which can place pressure on the injured nerve. This can limit the nerve’s ability to transmit signals from the brain to the affected part of the patient’s body.
Neuropraxia injuries: This is caused by an overstretching of the nerves.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
Diagnosing Erb’s Palsy
The first step in diagnosing Erb’s palsy is often taken by the parents when they suspect that their child does not behave or cannot physically move the way a normal child his or her age would.
Telltale signs of Erb’s palsy that may indicate the illness include weakness in the arm, awkward arm movements, an inability to move the hands or fingers in certain ways, and abnormal muscle tone such as floppy or stiff muscles.
The next step involves a physical examination of your child by a doctor, and further tests may be required to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis. Your child’s doctor may recommend a treatment plan based on the type, extent, and symptoms of the injuries your child sustained.
One or more of the tests below may be administered to identify or measure the presence, absence, location, and severity of Erb’s palsy:
- X-ray, MRI, or CT scan to identify brachial plexus, bone, or muscle damage.
- An EMG or electromyography that measures electrical activity in the body
Tests such as these, especially the ones that are invasive, can be expensive. However, they may be needed if your doctor is to be able to properly assess the extent and severity of your child’s injuries.
When these costs are added with the costs of therapy, doctor visits, specialist consultations, childcare, and transportation to and from checkups, the financial impact on a family from Erb’s palsy can be overwhelming.
It can also be difficult to deal with insurance companies while you juggle the care of your child and work responsibilities.
The Birth Injury Lawyers Group helps families affected by birth injuries and Erb’s palsy in Fayetteville by handling all of the administrative steps involved in a malpractice case on their behalf so that they can focus on their child’s recovery.
Call us today at (800) 222-9529 to discuss your case and learn about representation from our firm in a free consultation with a member of our team. Find out how a Fayetteville Erb’s palsy lawyer may be able to help your family.
Fayetteville Erbs Palsy Lawyer Near Me (800) 222-9529
Recovery and Prognosis for Erb’s Palsy Cases
The long-term outlook of Erb’s palsy depends on the following factors:
- The severity of the injuries in question
- Where and how specific nerves within the brachial plexus sustained damage
- The ability of the patient to recover using the different treatment options that are available to them
Mild cases of Erb’s palsy may allow the patient can make a complete recovery.
However, if the birth injury and subsequent nerve damage are severe and the patient’s nerves do not heal on their own, surgery may be required. Even then, there is no guarantee that the patient will recover all or even most of the function of his or her affected arm.
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
A Fayetteville Erb’s Palsy Lawyer May Be Able to Help You
At the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, we focus on medical malpractice cases involving birth injuries. We are here to help you get through this traumatic time.
If your child was diagnosed with Erb’s palsy in Fayetteville and you suspect that medical malpractice was the cause, call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529.
A member of our team can discuss your case in a free consultation, and we may be able to represent you on a contingency-fee-basis.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."