Erb’s palsy, also called brachial plexus palsy, is a birth injury caused by damage to the nerves between the spine and the arm or hand. The result is temporary or permanent paralysis of the arm or hand in the infant. When doctors aggressively twist and tug at the baby during birth, Erb’s palsy can occur. While some infants make a full recovery from the injury, others are not so fortunate and are left with a life-long injury.
There are four types of nerve injuries that can result in brachial plexus palsy:
· An avulsion – when the injury results in the tearing of the nerve from the spine – this is the most serious type of brachial plexus injury.
· A rupture – the nerve tears, but does not tear away from the spine.
· A neuronal – a nerve attempts to heal itself and scar tissue develops around the injury, which exerts pressure on the injured nerve, thereby preventing signals from the nerve to the muscle.
· A praxis- a nerve injury in which the nerve does not tear and the injury heals on its own.
There are certain risk factors that raise the chances of Erb’s palsy. If the pre-birth weight of the baby is over 8 lbs, 14 oz, if the mother gains over 35 lbs. of weight during pregnancy. In addition, if the mother has a flat pelvis, it can increase the chance of Erb’s palsy.
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