Birth Injury And Paralysis

By Nancy Sharpe

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Paralysis can result from problems during labor. There are many different types of paralysis, but one of the more common types of paralysis may include facial paralysis.

During labor or birth, pressure on a baby's face may cause the facial nerve to be injured.

This may also occur with the use of forceps for delivery. The injury is often seen when the baby cries. There is no movement on the side of the face with the injury and the eye cannot be closed.

If the nerve was only bruised, the paralysis usually improves in a few weeks. If the nerve was torn, surgery may be needed.

Another paralysis issue is frequently referred to as Erb's Palsy.

Erb's Palsy is a type of birth injury that damages the nerves of the shoulder and elbow muscles.

Erb's Palsy, also spelled Erbs Palsy, was named after Dr. Wilhelm Heinrich Erb, a German neurologist.

Dr. Erb uncovered the most common injury that causes brachial plexus palsy - damage of the nerves in the vertebrae. This damage causes paralysis in some children. Others may lack muscle control or feeling in their arms or hands. The majority of Erb's Palsy cases occur during birth, as a result of forcible traction during delivery.

Symptoms of Erb's Palsy may include:

• No muscle control and no feeling in the arm or hand
   
• The ability to move but with little control
   
• The use of hands but not of the shoulder or elbow
   
• The entire arm may be paralyzed with the hand and fingers hanging limp
   
• Facial paralysis on the affected side
   
• Not able to sit up without assistance
   
• The inability to crawl without the use of therapeutic devices

Erb's Palsy is mostly preventable because the medical community has developed maneuvers that should be used to alleviate shoulder dystocia - a condition that occurs when the baby's shoulder becomes "stuck" behind the mother's pubic bone in the birth canal. However, there are times when the brachial plexus has been damaged during delivery. Sometimes the damage is tragically permanent, sometimes it isn't..

When the Erb's Palsy has occurred because of malpractice or negligence, you need to know your options. An experienced birth injury lawyer with proven record of success, knowledge, and resources necessary to bring justice.

If your child has been diagnosed with Erb's palsy and it was the result of medical negligence then you may be entitled to monetary compensation but please contact us now to discuss your personal situation. We can help.