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Erb's Palsy is a condition that leaves an infant with limited use of his or her arm. This limited movement is caused by damage to the nerves that control movement in the arms, hands and fingers, called the Brachial Plexus. When an infant has Erb's Palsy, the signals that the nerves send to the muscles may be slowed down, weakened or even blocked, preventing muscles from moving normally.
Damage to the Brachial Plexus, resulting in Erb's Palsy, can occur in a few ways. The most common time for this damage to occur is before or during the delivery process. Sometimes a doctor or other medical professional will use too much force when pulling the child from the birth canal, resulting in damage to the nerves and thus Erb's Palsy. If the neck of the child is stretched too much during the delivery process, these nerves can tear or stretch, resulting in Erb's Palsy. Sometimes, diseases during the pregnancy, such as maternal diabetes or chicken pox, can cause damage to the Brachial Plexus, resulting in Erb's Palsy.
Many children who have Erb's Palsy may be able to move their hands and fingers normally, but will not have control over their arms. Infants with more severe cases of Erb's Palsy may have "droopy eye syndrome." This is when the pupil of an eye becomes paralyzed.
If left untreated, Erb's Palsy can have long term effects such as the shortening or shrinking of the affected arm, a permanently bent elbow or an internally rotated shoulder. Surgery is usually needed to treat patients with Erb's Palsy.
If you think that your child may have Erb's Palsy, we have highly experienced New York Erb's Palsy Attorneys and a Nurse Consultant on staff who can determine if your child is the victim of medical malpractice. Our Erb's Palsy attorneys have recovered millions of dollars to help clients get the money they need to pay for surgery, therapy and other medical treatment. Call or email us. We can help you determine if you have a case.
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