Erb’s Palsy Symptoms

What Are Common Symptoms of Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s palsy, also known as brachial plexus palsy, is a birth injury that occurs when the network of nerves running from the neck to the shoulder and arm gets damaged during childbirth.

During a difficult delivery, the baby’s neck may be overly stretched to one side, causing damage to these nerves. While most cases heal with proper treatment, some children may experience long-term or even permanent disability.

Common Erb’s palsy symptoms include:

• A limp or paralyzed arm that hangs by the child’s side
• Decreased or absent muscle tone and reflexes on one side of the body
• Reduced grip strength
• Trouble moving the shoulder or upper arm
• Weakness in one arm

The severity of the nerve damage and related Erb’s palsy symptoms can vary depending on the specific injury. In some cases, a baby may not show signs of a brachial plexus injury until 3 to 6 months of age.

If your child is showing symptoms of Erb’s palsy that you suspect was caused by medical negligence, a birth injury lawyer may be able to help.

Get a free case review now to see if a top Erb’s palsy lawyer in our network may be able to pursue compensation for your child’s medical expenses and care costs.

Erb’s Palsy Symptoms in Babies

Babies who experience a difficult delivery are more likely to be born with birth injuries like Erb’s palsy.

Signs of Erb’s palsy in a newborn may include:

• Arm weakness: The baby has difficulty moving their arm or has a poor grip.
• Abnormal arm positioning: The child’s arm hangs low with their fingers pointed outward.
• Contracture: They may have tightened muscles, joints, or tendons.
• Lack of sensation: The baby has limited feeling in their arm, shown by a lack of response to temperature or touch.
• Limited range of motion: They may have trouble bending their elbow or turning their palm up.
• Torticollis: This condition causes the baby’s head to tilt or lean to one side.

If you’ve spotted any of these Erb’s palsy symptoms in your newborn, get medical help as soon as possible.

There’s a greater chance that your child may have the condition if certain risk factors were present, like if they were delivered breech or forceps were used.

Mild Erb’s Palsy Signs and Symptoms

In less severe cases of Erb’s palsy, the brachial plexus nerves are stretched but not torn. This type of Erb’s palsy is called neurapraxia and is the most common type of brachial plexus injury, Cleveland Clinic reports.

Symptoms of mild Erb’s palsy include:

• Awkward positioning of the arm
• Decreased grip strength
• Limited range of motion in the shoulder
• Poor reflexes
• Weakness in the arm

Most mild Erb’s palsy symptoms resolve on their own within 3 to 4 months and have no effect on a baby’s development. Parents can perform physical therapy and range-of-motion exercises with their newborn beginning at 3 months of age to help with symptoms of Erb’s palsy.

“The range-of-motion and stretching exercises will help prevent stiffness in your baby’s arm, hand, and wrist. You’ll want to avoid a joint contracture (permanent joint stiffness). Follow your provider’s instructions about how many times to do the movements each day.”

– Cleveland Clinic

Get a free case review now to see if you may be eligible for financial support for Erb’s palsy treatments.

Severe Erb’s Palsy Signs and Symptoms

In rare cases, Erb’s palsy nerve damage is more severe and involves nerve fibers that have been torn or ripped away from the spine.

Neuroma occurs when the nerve has torn, healed, and left scar tissue, while rupture refers to a nerve that has torn but not separated from the spine. Avulsion, the most severe type of Erb’s palsy, happens when the nerve root separates from the spinal cord.

Symptoms of severe Erb’s palsy include:

• Arm flexed at the elbow
• Complete or partial paralysis
• Muscle weakness
• Significant loss of motion

In more severe cases, surgical treatments like nerve grafts, nerve transfers, and tendon transfers are used to relieve brachial plexus palsy symptoms.

Erb’s palsy treatments can be expensive, but LawFirm.com may be able to help. Our partner birth injury lawyers have helped many families secure substantial settlements for Erb’s palsy and other preventable birth injuries.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now to speak with a registered nurse – for free. They can listen to your story and help determine if a medical mistake may have caused your child’s Erb’s palsy symptoms.

“Families have questions when they call us about the care they received, and these are valid questions that should have been addressed better during their time in the hospital.”

– Beth Carter, Registered Nurse and LawFirm.com case manager

Long-Term Effects of Erb’s Palsy Symptoms

Most children with Erb’s palsy will make a full recovery, but those with more severe nerve damage may have lasting health issues.

Long-term effects of Erb’s palsy include:

• Chronic pain from the nerve injury that may require medication and ongoing therapy
• Muscle atrophy due to lack of use of the affected arm
• Premature arthritis, bone shortening, and joint problems
• Self-esteem issues, especially if the child is unable to participate in activities with their peers
• Financial burden related to treatment costs and other expenses

When medical malpractice causes Erb’s palsy symptoms, families may be able to seek compensation from an Erb’s palsy lawsuit to help cover treatment expenses and long-term care costs.

Get Legal Help for Erb’s Palsy

The costs of treating Erb’s palsy and other brachial plexus injuries can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve partnered with Erb’s palsy lawyers who may be able to pursue compensation for your child’s care.

The birth injury lawyers in our network have secured over $962 million for families impacted by Erb’s palsy and other preventable birth injuries.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or get a free case review to see if one of our trusted legal partners may be able to fight for everything you deserve.