Erb’s Palsy

Erb’s palsy is a form of nerve damage that can cause muscle weakness or paralysis in a baby’s arm. While some cases resolve with time, others may result in lasting harm. In some cases, the birth injury is caused by medical mistakes during delivery. Learn what causes Erb’s palsy and what options you may have if your baby was harmed.

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What Is Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s palsy, also called brachial plexus birth palsy or Erb-Duchenne palsy, is a condition usually caused by nerve damage during childbirth. Erb’s palsy commonly occurs during difficult deliveries.

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that sends signals from the spine to the shoulders, arms, and hands. Pulling or overstretching these nerves can cause Erb’s palsy.

Symptoms can range from mild weakness to complete paralysis of the affected arm. While some cases resolve on their own, others may require physical therapy, surgery, or long-term care to restore function and mobility.

Can Medical Negligence Cause Erb’s Palsy?

Medical malpractice can lead to preventable cases of Erb’s palsy. When health care providers apply excessive force or fail to address delivery complications safely, they risk causing brachial plexus nerve damage.

These situations may be considered Erb’s palsy medical negligence:

Applying force to the baby’s shoulders during a head-first delivery
Misusing delivery tools like forceps or vacuum extractors
Using excessive pressure on the baby’s head or neck in difficult deliveries
Pulling on the baby’s arms during a breech (feet- or buttocks-first) delivery

If your child has Erb’s palsy, and you suspect it may be due to medical negligence, we may be able to help. Money from an Erb’s palsy lawsuit can help your child get the best possible care.

Is Erb’s Palsy Preventable?

In many cases, Erb’s palsy is preventable with proper care during labor and delivery. When medical professionals use too much force, they can stretch or injure the brachial plexus nerves.

Health care providers can take steps to minimize the likelihood of Erb’s palsy by:

Managing shoulder dystocia safely: Proper training can help delivery teams prevent excessive force on the baby’s neck and shoulders.
Monitoring risk factors: Identifying conditions like high birth weight, maternal diabetes, or abnormal positioning can help prepare for delivery challenges.
Reevaluating delivery techniques: Using methods like maternal repositioning or certain maneuvers in high-risk cases can reduce the risk of nerve injury.

Cesarean sections (C-sections) reduce some risks, but they do not completely prevent brachial plexus injuries. Even with the best practices, some injuries may occur due to factors beyond anyone’s control.

Erb’s Palsy Symptoms

There are several common signs and symptoms of Erb’s palsy. They can vary depending on how damaged the brachial plexus nerves are.

Common signs of Erb’s palsy include:

Lack of muscular or nerve development in the arm or hand
Limited ability to grasp objects or relying on one hand only
Limp arm, wrist, or hand
Muscle weakness in one arm
Numbness or tingling in the shoulder, arm, or hand
Partial or complete paralysis of the arm
Waiter’s tip (arm hangs by the side with wrist rotated inward)

Early recognition of these symptoms is essential for timely diagnosis and treatment. If your baby is showing any of these symptoms, contact a health care professional for an evaluation.

How Do You Diagnose Erb’s Palsy?

A newborn lying on a purple blanket while a caregiver’s hand checks their shoulder. If you suspect your child has Erb’s palsy, you should consult your doctor or pediatrician. Only a medical expert can accurately make an Erb’s palsy diagnosis.

A doctor will conduct several examinations and imaging tests to diagnose brachial plexus palsy.

Common Erb’s palsy assessment tests include:

CT (computed tomography) scan: This scan takes images from several angles of the body to search for damage to soft tissues, such as the brachial plexus.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan: This scan takes images of the internal tissues in the body to look for brachial plexus nerve damage.
Nerve conduction study: This physical test measures the speed of electrical impulses traveling through the brachial plexus nerves using electrodes.
Physical examination: Doctors will look for any physical signs of nerve damage, such as muscle weakness and limited mobility of the arm, shoulder, wrist, or hand.

Your child’s doctor may use a combination of these tests to make an accurate diagnosis of Erb’s palsy.

Many babies with Erb’s palsy recover fully with proper treatment, but about 1 in 10 may require surgery between 4 and 9 months old, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Get Support for Erb’s Palsy

Many cases of Erb’s palsy are caused by medical mistakes during delivery. Medical professionals who cause preventable birth injuries should be held accountable for their actions.

Your family should not be responsible for paying for your child’s Erb’s palsy treatment if the injury was preventable.

If medical negligence caused your child’s Erb’s palsy, you may be eligible for financial compensation for treatments like Erb’s palsy surgery and therapy.

An experienced Erb’s palsy lawyer can guide you through the legal process and fight for the money your family deserves. Contact us now for a free case review.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cause of Erb's palsy?

Excessively pulling, stretching, or twisting the brachial plexus nerve network can cause a child to develop Erb’s palsy during the birthing process.

Discussing your child’s specific case with a trained medical professional can provide a clearer understanding of what caused Erb’s palsy.

We have on-staff registered nurses who can answer your questions.

What are the common Erb's palsy risk factors?

Certain pregnancy and delivery conditions can increase the risk of Erb’s palsy. These factors may raise the chance of brachial plexus injury during childbirth, especially if not managed carefully by medical staff.

Common risk factors for Erb’s palsy include:

Breech position at birth
Large baby (macrosomia)
Maternal diabetes
Prolonged second stage of labor
Shoulder dystocia

Doctors are trained to manage these and other delivery risks. When they don’t, it may be considered medical negligence. In these cases, working with an Erb’s palsy law firm may help your family pursue compensation for your child’s care.

Can you sue for Erb's palsy?

Yes, you may be able to sue for Erb’s palsy if it was caused by medical negligence during childbirth. A legal claim can help families seek compensation for medical costs, therapy, and other expenses.

Understanding your legal rights is an important first step toward seeking justice and holding negligent medical professionals accountable.

Written by: Complicated Care

Complicated Care was founded by a team of legal and medical professionals to educate and empower victims and families affected by birth injuries. Our team is devoted to providing you with the best resources and legal information for all types of birth injuries.