Erbs Palsy

Washington DC Birth Injury Attorneys

Litigation handled by Washington D.C. Erbs Palsy attorneys illustrates the sometimes limiting and persistent nature of this birth injury. Often, it is due to medical malpractice, when medical doctors and related professionals fail to manage a birth effectively.

Erbs Palsy is characterized by partial or complete paralysis of an arm. This occurs when the main nerves (spinal roots C5-C7) are traumatized from the shoulder being displaced during a difficult birth (referred to as shoulder dystocia). This typically occurs during a medical emergency, when the umbilical cord is restricted (blocked) as the child is lodged in the birth canal. In response, the physician forces or pulls the baby in such a way that saves its life but causes tears or stretching of the nerve fibers. That has the effect of impairing the nervous and circulatory system around the shoulder, arm and hand.

Some Erbs Palsy cases resolve themselves over time. But in other cases, the injury is permanent, leaving sensory and motor deficits.  If your infant is showing signs of arm impairment, consult a Washington D.C. Erbs Palsy attorney immediately.

How Erbs Palsy can be prevented

The responsibility for prevention of Erbs Palsy falls on the attending doctor, who is expected to assess the prospects for vaginal (natural) delivery based on relative dimensions of the mother and child, as well as the position of the baby just before birth.

The physician needs to identify if and when a cesarean section should be performed since this can avert the occurrence of the condition. This should occur as the doctor estimates the weight of the baby before birth and assesses other risk factors. If a natural birth appears to be safe, a doctor must use proper techniques to prevent the shoulder from getting caught in the birth canal, judiciously use force in pulling the baby out, and react appropriately to events as they occur in delivery.

Treatment of Erbs Palsy

Because the condition of Erbs Palsy can be limiting to the individual, every effort to treat it should be engaged as soon as possible. The range of treatments include the following:

Clearly, there are costs associated with treatment. And if treatments are unsuccessful, plastic surgery may be required when the child is more fully grown. Meanwhile, ongoing physical and occupational therapy is almost always needed to improve functionality.

Covering the costs of Erbs Palsy

In additional to medical treatment in the early years of the child, additional therapy and follow-up treatment may be necessary as he or she grows up. You should consider consulting a Washington D.C. Erbs Palsy attorney soon after the injury is apparent. If necessary, an attorney can help you gather the necessary medical records to pursue litigation against those who were responsible for the medical mistake.

We understand the emotional toll a birth injury can take on your family. Strength in experience, legal ability, and attention to detail are the hallmarks of Nash & Associates. Call the firm at 202-327-5498 or toll-free at 800-690-7895, or contact us online to schedule your initial consultation.