Atlanta Erb's Palsy Lawyer
Helping Families in Georgia & Nationwide
Erb's palsy is a type of brachial plexus palsy that affects the upper arm and shoulder nerves. It is a birth injury that often results from trauma during a difficult delivery. Erb's palsy is preventable and often only occurs when a doctor or other healthcare provider makes a mistake. If your child has Erb's palsy, you may be entitled to take legal action. Our firm can help you understand your rights and options with the assistance of an experienced Erb's palsy attorney.
Call (404) 609-1081 to speak with our Erb's palsy lawyers in Atlanta, GA. We offer free initial consultations.
Causes & Risk Factors of Erb’s Palsy
An injury to the brachial plexus causes Erb's palsy. The brachial plexus is a cluster of nerves near the neck and shoulder. These nerves transmit signals from the brain to the shoulder, arm, and hand. The arm and shoulder may be weak or paralyzed when the brachial plexus is damaged.
While Erb's palsy is a birth injury, it is not a congenital condition. Instead, it is caused by damage to the brachial plexus during birth. This damage may be caused by a variety of factors, including improper use of medical instruments, excessive force applied during delivery, or the baby becoming stuck in the birth canal.
Some of the most common causes of Erb's palsy include:
- Shoulder dystocia - when the baby's shoulder gets wedged behind the mother's pelvic bone.
- Excessive pulling on the shoulders
- Excessive pulling on the head and neck
- Improper use of birth-assisting tools, such as forceps and vacuum extractors
- Failure to perform a C-section when necessary
While the exact cause of your child's Erb's palsy may be unknown, our team can investigate the circumstances of your child's birth to determine if medical malpractice was a factor.
What Are the Symptoms of Erb’s Palsy?
Erb's palsy is characterized by weakness or paralysis of the arm and/or shoulder. The baby may be unable to move the affected arm and may not have a Moro reflex. The Moro reflex is an involuntary reaction that causes newborns to open their arms wide and close them again, often in response to a loud noise or sudden movement. If the baby does not have a Moro reflex on one side, it may be a sign of Erb's palsy.
Other symptoms of Erb's palsy may include:
- Arm and shoulder pain
- Numbness or lack of sensation in the arm
- Arm bent at the elbow and held against the body
- Arm bent at the wrist and held to the side of the head
- Arm that is limp and cannot be moved
If you notice any of these symptoms, seeking medical attention right away is essential.
Over time, some children may also develop differences in muscle growth or arm length on the affected side because the nerves are not sending normal signals to the muscles. Parents might see that sleeves fit differently, that the child avoids using one arm during play, or that fine motor tasks such as grasping toys or later holding a pencil are more difficult. Recognizing these changes early allows your medical team to adjust therapy plans and may be important evidence if an Erb's palsy attorney is reviewing how the original injury has affected your child’s development.
How Is Erb’s Palsy Diagnosed?
A doctor can diagnose Erb's palsy by performing a physical examination and reviewing the baby's medical history. In some cases, additional diagnostic tests may be ordered to determine the extent of the damage. These tests may include an electromyography (EMG) test, X-rays, ultrasounds, other imaging tests, and nerve conduction tests.
In many Atlanta-area hospitals, the initial diagnosis happens shortly after birth when nurses or physicians see that a newborn is not moving one arm normally. The care team will often compare movement and reflexes on both sides of the body, look for swelling or bruising around the shoulder, and ask about what occurred during labor and delivery. As the child grows, specialists such as pediatric orthopedists or neurologists may be consulted to refine the diagnosis and provide a clearer picture of which parts of the brachial plexus were affected.
Parents are sometimes surprised at how long it can take to understand the full scope of an Erb’s palsy injury. Certain nerve injuries may show partial improvement over months, while others become more obvious as a child misses developmental milestones. When an Erb's palsy attorney in Atlanta reviews a case, we often obtain and organize all of these diagnostic records to help demonstrate when concerns were first raised, how doctors responded, and whether any delays in recognizing the injury affected treatment options.
What Is the Treatment for Erb’s Palsy?
There is no cure for Erb's palsy, and the condition cannot be reversed. However, early intervention and ongoing treatment can help improve the baby's symptoms and sometimes lead to a full recovery.
Some of the most common treatments for Erb's palsy include:
- Physical therapy
- Range-of-motion exercises
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy
- Medication for pain and inflammation
- Surgery (in severe cases)
