Erb's Palsy & Shoulder Dystocia

Our Michigan birth injury lawyers handle birth defect and birth injury cases involving brachial plexus injuries. These injuries are classified as either Erb's Palsy or Klumpke's Palsy. Erb's palsy is one of the most common and serious of all shoulder dystocia injuries, a type of trauma which results from a newborn's shoulder becoming stuck behind the mother's cervix during delivery. It results in damage to the nerves connecting the arm and shoulder from the use of excessive force or torque by the obstetrician, to release the stuck shoulder of the newborn.

More specifically, when a baby's shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother's pubic bone the baby's head delivers but the shoulders do not follow. This condition is known as a shoulder dystocia. It is one of the most difficult obstacles that can occur during delivery because it carries with it the potential for high risk complications.

At this point the physician must perform a particular delivery maneuver avoiding the placement of pressure on the shoulder. If this procedure is done improperly, an Erb's Palsy can occur where the nerve tissue between the arm and shoulder is stretched, partially torn or completely ruptured.

These affected nerves are referred to as the "brachial plexus nerves" and emerge from the spinal cord, travel across the shoulder, along the arms, into the hand and ultimately, to the fingers tips. The injury which results to these nerves can cause the shoulder dystocia victim to suffer a potentially permanent, partial or complete paralysis of the arm. Many common symptoms include:

1. No muscle control and no feeling in the arm or hand.

2. The ability to move but with little control.

3. The use of hands but not of the shoulder or elbow.

4. The entire arm may be paralyzed with the hand and fingers hanging limp.

5. Facial paralysis on the affected side.

6. Not able to sit up without assistance.

7. The inability to crawl without the use of therapeutic devices.

Many of these symptoms can improve with appropriate medical intervention, like physicial therapy, but others are permanent and last a lifetime. These impact on a child's self-esteem, the ability to engage in regular childhood activities, and often later on a person's ability to obtain gainful employment.

A properly trained physician will often recognize the risk factors for Erb's palsy before the birth of the baby. Common risk factors include high birth weight, mother's diabetes, a heavy mother, pregnancy beyond 40 weeks, and other factors. The failure to recognize these potential risks and act accordingly may constitute negligence or medical malpractice.

Many Michigan parents care for a child, injured at birth. If your child was injured at birth, it is important contact us to discuss your case. You can also learn more about Michigan medical malpractice lawsuits by requesting our FREE BOOK, "The Ultimate Michigan Medical Malpractice Handbook."

DO I HAVE A MICHIGAN BIRTH INJURY CASE?
1-800-606-1717

We are Michigan cerebral palsy medical malpractice lawyers and Michigan birth injury lawyers handling cases involving birth trauma, c-section delay, shoulder dystocia, fetus asphyxia, fetal asphyxia, Group B Streptocococcus (GBS), hypoxic ishemic encephalopathy, anoxic encephalopathy, lack of oxygen, neonatal, pre-term birth, prenatal injury, placenta separation, uterine rupture, umbilical cord compression,umbilical cord clamping,anoxic brain injury, jaundice, kernicterus, hydrocephalus, hyperbilirubinea, RH-ABO incompatibility, sepsis, infections,infectious disease, meningitis, forcep injuries, nursery burn injuries, and labor and delivery negligence.

We represent Michigan birth injury victims diagnosed with brain damage, cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy, ataxic cerebral palsy, athetoid cerebral palsy, brachial plexus, Erb's palsy, mental retardation, premature birth, hypoxic-ischemic injury, anoxic brain injury, hydrocephalus, encephalopathy,spina bifida, neural tube defects, blindness, hearing loss, and all other types of brain injury.

We represent birth injury malpractice victims in birth trauma cases against hospitals, doctors, physicians, obstetricians, gynecologists, OBGYNs, nurses, midwives, birthing centers, and clinics.

Get Help Now

Find out if you have a case by completing this form for a free, no obligation review.

Describe your case or ask a confidential question and we will respond quickly

Personal Injury Case Results

• $5,000,000- Detroit motorcycle accident
• $3,750,000-Ann Arbor hospital medical malpractice
• $1,950,000-Detroit cerebral palsy settlement
• $1,800,000-Detroit truck accident for traumatic brain injury
• $1,600,000-Michigan Wrongful death lawsuit
• $1,425,000-Detroit slip and fall jury verdict
• $1,400,000-Michigan child lead poisoning
• $1,375,000-Detroit car accident for spinal cord injury
• $1,200,000-Michigan birth injury for cerebral palsy
• $1,175,000-Pontiac fall injury on broken steps
• $1,100,000-Detroit motorcycle accident
• $950,000-St. Clair County auto accident
• $800,000-Grand Rapids truck accident
• $750,000-Ann Arbor car accident
• $675,000-Flint truck accident
• $650,000-Michigan child lead poisoning
• $625,000-Medical malpractice wrongful death lawsuit
• $500,000-Lansing medical malpractice
• $450,000-Attendant care claim
• $410,000-Macomb County slip and fall on ice
• $400,000-Detroit nursing home neglect
• $380,000-Underinsured motorist award
• $375,000-Royal Oak pedestrian accident
• $300,000-Life insurance benefits for accidental death
• $225,000-Dog bite to child in Warren
• $250,000-Port Huron motorcycle accident
• $160,000-Kalamazoo hospital fall injury

See More Results