Erb's Palsy

Erb’s Palsy, also known as brachial plexus palsy, occurs in the network of nerves that supply feeling and control to the shoulders and arms. Erb’s Palsy is an injury to the nerves in the neck and upper chest. The injury can result in a loss of movement and feeling in the arm, hand and fingers. This injury often occurs during childbirth if the baby's shoulders become stuck behind the mother's pubic bone and the appropriate delivery techniques are not used.

1. ERB’S PALSY

Erb's Palsy, also known as brachial plexus palsy, occurs in the network of nerves that
supply feeling and control to the shoulders and arms. Erb’s Palsy is an injury to the
nerves in the neck and upper chest. The injury can result in a loss of movement and
feeling in the arm, hand and fingers. This injury often occurs during childbirth if the
baby's shoulders become stuck behind the mother's pubic bone and the appropriate
delivery techniques are not used.

2. Erb’s Palsy O)

Erb's Palsy is a loss of movement or LAS E

weakness of the arm that occurs

when the collection of nerves z

around the shoulder are damaged “ef
Brachial Plexus

during birth. There are different
forms of Erb’s Palsy in an infant. The

type depends on the degree of arm This bundle of nerves is
paralysis. called the brachial plexus.
3 / 1000 Births Permanent Injury
Occurs in an average of 3 25% of affected infants will experience
infants per 1000 live births. permanent impairment and injury.
| © eo ©

82/1000

2

3. Babies are at risk for Erb's Palsy if their shoulder becomes stuck behind the
mother's pubic bone during vaginal delivery. This is called shoulder dystocia.

fore Delivery
Did you have any of Did you ask ....

these risk factors for
shoulder dystocia?

1

1

I
un

Is my baby at
risk for shoulder
dystocia?

Small pelvic
structure?

/
/ a e >

1
] y \
A |
1
LA
La
Large baby? } z pe

Diabetes?

What kind of risk
factors should | be
aware of?

4. y

The nerves of the brachial a
plexus can be injured duringa / €)
difficult vaginal delivery, when 1 nerves are at risk for injury

2
‘\ occurs, the brachial plexus
1
there is shoulder dystocia, and À | when excessive traction or
the appropriate delivery tech- \ À pulling is applied to baby's
LA
=

niques aren't used. x head or neck.

=
A When shoulder dystocia
4
+

When the following proper techniques
aren't used, problems can happen.
Did the doctor or nurse ...

Put you on your
hands and knees
for delivery?

Pull your
knees up to
your chest?

Give you an
episiotomy?
(opening birth
channel)

Apply pressure
to your belly?

5. After Deliver
Did the doctor 1 Did you ask

tell you... \

How did this

2 N ini Will my baby
x \ injury happen? y baby

We had to fracture 7 eve de la have any

the baby’s arm or u \ permanent

collarbone. injury?

What's wrong
with my baby’s
arm?

6. C=
<€

u

No Arm

Movement
Newborn is not
moving the upper or
lower arm or hand.

No Startle Reflex
Absent Moro reflex (startle
reflex) on the affected
side. This reflex is a
response to a sudden loss
of support, when the infant
feels like it is falling.

Oo
Æ
<?
L
we

Bent Arm
Arm flexed (bent)
at elbow and held
against body.

Decreased
Grip

Decreased grip on
the affected side.

7. WHAT SHOULD MY HEALTH CARE
PROVIDER HAVE DONE?

Mother or baby may not have received proper
medical care, because the health care provider...

? ?

G e failed to anticipate the potential
2 O ? complication of shoulder dystocia.

0 ?

y Y failed to use the proper delivery
techniques in the presence of
shoulder dystocia.
used excessive pulling or traction on
the baby's head or neck in the
presence of shoulder dystocia.

8. If you feel your health care provider acted with
negligence, contact Sokolove Law at

800-568-8290

sokolovelaw.com

SOURCES
www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2435328/?tool=pmcentrez
www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002370/