Brachial plexus palsy or Erb’s palsy is a weakness or paralysis of the shoulder and arm. It occurs because of damage to the nerves of the brachial plexus during childbirth. And there are times when this injury occurs due to medical negligence (carelessness). If you are a parent whose child has suffered birth injuries such as brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy), you may be wondering what the prognosis may be for your child. The answer to that question may depend on several factors.
Effects of the Injuries
For instance, during the labor and delivery process involving difficult or prolonged births, negligence (carelessness) on the part of the medical staff may cause the nerves of the brachial plexus, which run from the spine along the neck and arm, to get stretched. It may also occur if the birth is a breech birth (infant is feet-first instead of head-first) or if the baby is unusually large at birth.
Children who have suffered serious injuries may experience a range of lasting effects including paralysis. These children may suffer permanent injuries that may lead to lasting deformities, paralysis, weakness and limitation in the range of motion of one arm. You may be able to correct these issues with surgery. However, some children may suffer permanent effects of nerve damage sustained at birth. Some lasting complications from Erb’s palsy (brachial plexus palsy) include weakness and paralysis, tightening of the muscles, and loss of sensation in the arm.
Living with Erb’s palsy (brachial plexus palsy)
Parents are also concerned about whether limited movement of the arm and shoulder, arm paralysis or weakness and reduced grip strength can make various aspects of life challenging at home and school. It also raises the question of whether kids can still participate in sports and leisure activities, which are very important for their development.
Each child’s range of impairments may be unique. For example, for some children, writing may become a struggle because two strong arms and hands are needed to hold a piece of paper with one hand and write with the other. Some study and job opportunities may be closed to those without upper limb function. For others, their career prospects and earning potential may be limited because of their disability. Driving may also become challenging with a weakened arm.
Children and adolescents may require emotional support and counseling to help them manage the psychological impact of overcoming their disability. They may also need ongoing physical and occupational therapy, the use of assistive devices and surgical options to help them in the future.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Birth injuries such as brachial plexus palsy or Erb’s palsy often occur as a result of the medical staff’s negligence (carelessness) during labor and delivery including the failure to carry out an emergency C-section. If your child has suffered birth injuries, he or she may be able to receive compensation that helps pay for medical expenses, lost income, cost of therapy, future treatments, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
For over 50 years, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm have helped clients better understand their legal rights and options, and we will also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. One of our clients secured a $2,850,000 verdict in an Erb’s palsy (brachial plexus palsy) case that was reduced by the appeals court to $1,846,000 because the verdict was so large. This was the highest amount upheld by the appellate (appeals) courts for many, many years. In addition we recovered $1,400,000 for a newborn who lost motion in the arm during birth due to doctors applying incorrect force on the baby’s head. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
We have seen many cases where New York City Health and Hospital Corporation facilities deliver babies who are born with cerebral palsy or brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) stemming from negligence (carelessness), and/or medical malpractice in the labor and delivery etc. of the children.
The following list identifies some of these hospitals (operated by New York City Health and Hospital Corporation):
• Jacobi Hospital aka Bronx Municipal 1400 Pelham Parkway South Bronx, New York 10461 718-918-5000
• Lincoln Hospital 234 East 149th Street Bronx, New York 10451 718-579-5000
• North Central Bronx Hospital 3424 Kossuth Avenue Bronx, New York 10467 718-519-5000
• Coney Island Hospital 2601 Ocean Parkway Brooklyn, New York 11235 718-616-3000
• Kings County Hospital 451 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11203 718-245-3131
• Woodhull Hospital 760 Broadway Brooklyn, New York 11206 718-963-8000
• Bellevue Hospital 462 First Avenue New York, New York 10016 212-562-5555
• Harlem Hospital 506 Lenox Avenue New York, New York 10037 212-939-1000
• Metropolitan Hospital 1901 First Avenue New York, New York 10029 212-423-6262
• Elmhurst Hospital 79-01 Broadway Elmhurst, New York 11373 718-334-4000
• Queens Hospital Center 82-68 164th Street Jamaica, New York 11432 718-883-3000
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