What to Expect if Your Child Is Diagnosed with Erb’s Palsy

Every child deserves a healthy start in life. Unfortunately for some, birth injuries compromise their health before they even go home with their parents for the first time. Medical malpractice can sometimes lead to Erb’s palsy, which develops when the brachial plexus—a cluster of nerves in the shoulder area—becomes injured during delivery. If your child has been diagnosed with Erb’s palsy, you can consult a birth injury lawyer to discuss the possibility of filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Watching Out for Possible Symptoms
The symptoms of Erb’s palsy can vary widely in terms of severity. Some infants may only have minor arm weakness, while others cannot move the affected arm at all. The child might hold the affected arm against the body or the arm may hang limp. Erb’s palsy can also cause loss of sensation, loss of motor function, arm numbness, impaired gripping ability, and partial or full paralysis of the affected arm.

Evaluating the Prognosis
With the help of a physical therapist, infants with mild symptoms of Erb’s palsy may fully recover within three to six months. Most children who receive the appropriate care regain sensory and functional use of the affected arm within a year. However, infants with very severe symptoms may never regain lost function.

Identifying Long-Term Effects
When the brachial plexus injury does not resolve itself, children must live with long-term health complications. For example, the muscular, circulatory, and nervous development in the affected area may be impaired. Some children suffer from permanent loss of function of the arm, while others may have abnormal muscle contractions that become permanent. As children with Erb’s palsy grow older and enter school, they may suffer emotionally, socially, and academically. They may display episodes of frustration and anger because they cannot physically participate in the activities other children enjoy and they may develop self-esteem issues that require counseling.

The birth injury lawyers at Pegalis & Erickson sympathize with parents of children who have been diagnosed with serious health problems such as Erb’s palsy. We would like to extend an offer for a free case review to help you explore your options. Call us at (516) 684-2900 to request an appointment with a medical malpractice attorney in Long Island, New York.