What is a Brachial Plexus Palsy Injury?
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulders, arms, and hands. Brachial plexus palsy (also called "Erbs palsy") occurs when this network of nerves from the spinal cord is damaged, almost always from a condition called shoulder dystocia. If a child suffers a brachial plexus injury during delivery, some of these muscles may suffer paralysis. Experts estimate one to two out of every thousand births result in a brachial plexus injury. Fortunately, only 10% of brachial plexus injuries have potential long term consequences. In fact, the reason that medical malpractice lawyers in Maryland often do not pursue brachial plexus cases is because what appeared to be a serious concern a year or so after the child's birth meets with a happy ending: the child's injury resolves completely. This is often the case when the child suffers a neuropraxia, the most common form of Erbs palsy injury and, fortunately, the most benign. Neuropraxia is localized to the specific area where the injury occurs. It is a physiologic block of nerve conduction within a long slender projection of a nerve cell that does not lead to anatomical interruption. The majority of children born with brachial plexus palsy have neuropraxia, and most have a quick and permanent recovery. That is the good news. The bad news is that a small minority of children who suffer a brachial plexus injury do face potential long term problems. In some cases, children have symptoms such as a limp or paralyzed arm, lack of muscle control in the arm, hand or wrist, and lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or hand. These injuries occur most frequently when the nerve is torn from the spine (called an avulsion brachial plexus injury).
See United Cerebral Palsy of Central Maryland
See Medical Malpractice in Maryland
See Maryland Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog
See Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse in Maryland
See Medical Malpractice Frequently Asked Questions
See Sample Attorney Deposition of Medical Malpractice Doctor
See Sample Attorney Deposition of Defendant Doctor's Medical Expert
See Informed Consent in Maryland
See Requirements for Certificate of Merit in Maryland Malpractice Cases
See Sample Medical Malpractice Complaint