The prognosis for Erb’s palsy typically depends on the nature and extent of the injuries suffered at birth by the victim. In a majority of cases, Erb’s palsy is a birth injury, which means it is an injury suffered by children during a difficult and long labor. Children born with this condition may require treatment and therapy in order to recover completely. Some children are so badly affected that they may suffer permanent injuries, disabilities and disfigurement that may not go away even with treatment and therapy.
What Causes Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy occurs because of damage to the nerves of the brachial plexus. This is the bundle of nerves that controls movement in the shoulder, upper arm, lower arm, wrist or hand of either arm. When an infant goes through a difficult birth, the nerves of the brachial plexus may get stretched. Often, in their efforts to get the child out as quickly as possible, doctors who lack the competence or skill use birth-assistive tools such as vacuum extractors or forceps with excessive force, which may result in severe birth injuries including Erb’s palsy.
Can You Recover from Erb’s Palsy?
Some children may recover from Erb’s palsy, but not before their parents have spent a large amount of money on expensive treatments, therapies and diagnostic tools. Such a recovery however, may apply to only cases of mild damage to the nerves of the brachial plexus. When a child suffers severe damage such as tearing of the nerves or severing of the nerves from the spinal cord, the consequences of that damage can be devastating. In such cases, the child may end up suffering permanent injuries and disabilities such as paralysis or inability to move the injured arm. There are many cases where children never recover from Erb’s palsy, but must simply learn to cope and live with this disability.
A child’s prognosis may improve with treatment. Treatment along with intensive physical therapy gives a child with Erb’s palsy the best possible outcome. For those with milder injuries, physical therapy can expedite the natural healing process giving the child better sensations and mobility in the arm more quickly. Physical therapy may include simple exercises, movement of the arm, stretching massage, range of motion exercises, etc.
Possible Treatments and Therapies
However, for an infant who has suffered more severe nerve damage, treatment options may include surgery. Surgery is typically recommended only when physical therapy and other treatments do not result in proper healing and recovery. During surgery, a surgeon may attempt to relieve pressure on the damaged nerves or engage in nerve grafting where the damaged nerves will be completely replaced.
The prognosis following surgery depends on how well the area heals and how well physical therapy works. For many infants who have suffered damage that is severe enough to necessitate surgery, the prognosis is generally not totally positive. These children may face lifelong impairments and disabilities as a result of Erb’s palsy including, but not limited to, disfigurement, paralysis, weakness and limited range of motion. Some of the other complications resulting from Erb’s palsy may also include muscle tightening, bone deformities, loss of sensation in the arm, curvature of the spine or scoliosis and shoulder deformities.
Children living with Erb’s palsy need tremendous support including therapeutic treatments and assistive devices. Children growing up with Erb’s palsy need a nurturing environment including positive interactions with family and community members. Creating such an environment can be a challenge and in many cases, costly. Children with Erb’s palsy also tend to face bullying and teasing in school, which may cause severe psychological and emotional problems as well.
If your child has Erb’s palsy because of medical negligence, he or she may be able to receive compensation that helps pay for medical expenses, cost of therapy, future treatments, permanent injuries, disabilities, loss of future earnings, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
The experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. One of our clients secured a $2,850,000 verdict that was reduced by the appeals court to $1,850,000 because the verdict was so large. This was the highest amount upheld by the appellate 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.
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