Erb’s Palsy Attorneys
Erb’s palsy is a tragic condition that can occur to children during childbirth. At Duffy & Duffy our Erb’s palsy attorneys help you evaluate your case and determine if you have a cause of action against your doctors, hospital or other medical practitioners.
Doctors and hospitals are well equipped to handle birth complications. Unfortunately, when doctors are negligent, injuries can occur. There is nothing more difficult for a parent than seeing your child suffer a birth injury, which can have a devastating and life-long impact for both you and your child. What should be one of the best moments in a parent’s life can quickly turns into something tragic due to medical negligence by physicians and hospital staff.
The effects of Erb’s Palsy are devastating, and the costs of caring for your child throughout his or her life can be tremendous. You must take action to secure your child’s financial security. If you wait too long, your claim can be time barred by the applicable Statutes of Limitations.
If your child has suffered a birth injury such as Erb’s palsy, it is important to speak an Erb’s Palsy attorney from Duffy & Duffy for advice and guidance.
What is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s Palsy is a type of brachial plexus injury that affects a child’s shoulder and arm. It is classified as the most common of shoulder dystocia injuries. This disorder can lead to partial or complete paralysis of the shoulder, arm and hand. While some children suffer only temporary paralysis of the arm and shoulder, in approximately 20% of the cases the nerves are actually torn from the spine, so that paralysis is permanent.
How is it Caused
The injury occurs when a newborn shoulder becomes lodged behind the woman’s cervix during the delivery process. When the baby is born, pulling on a child’s head puts pressure and stretches the brachial plexus or Erb’s point. These nerves control movement of the shoulder, arm and hand. These nerves are referred to as the “brachial plexus.”
If you are experiencing difficulty during delivery, it is up to the doctor to take appropriate action and perform a dislodging maneuver to release the shoulder so injury does not occur.
There are Different Types of Erb’s Palsy
Children are affected by this disorder in different ways. Some children will not have any sensation or muscle control in their arm, while others will have difficulty using their hand.
There are four types of nerve injuries with Erb’s palsy:
- The nerve is torn, but still connect to the spine (rupture);
- The nerve is torn from the spine (avulsion);
- The damaged nerve has healed but left scar tissue (neuroma);
- Localized nerve trauma at the site of the injury (neuropraxia).
Can it Be Prevented?
This condition is preventable with proper prenatal care, and appropriate advanced planning by your physician. There are certain risk factors that can lend themselves to an Erb’s palsy complication, such as a prior delivery of a child with shoulder dystocia, induced labor, larger babies, mothers with a small pelvis, difficult deliveries, or breech presentation. An experienced physician should be well aware of these factors and be prepared for a potential problem.
While these factors lend themselves to shoulder dystocia, proper decision making and planning at the time of birth should protect the child. The delivering doctor should be aware of these risk factors and take preventative measure to avoid this potential birth injury. Their failure to take these actions is the leading cause of Erb’s Palsy.
Our teams of Erb’s palsy attorneys have extensive experience in litigating these types of cases, and it is important to speak with an Erb’s palsy attorney to discuss the circumstances that led to your child’s injury.
How We Can Help
If you suspect that your child has been hurt due to medical malpractice, speak with an Erb’s palsy attorney from our office. The Erb’s palsy attorneys at Duffy and Duffy understand how devastating a birth injury can be. If your child has suffered from Erb’s palsy or other birth injury, we want to hear your story. Our Erb’s palsy attorneys will be able to protect your child’s rights, and help them get the compensation they deserve.
