Receiving a diagnosis for your newborn is a stressful experience. When that diagnosis is brachial plexus palsy, often called Erb’s palsy, it can be devastating. This condition can cause weakness or paralysis in your baby’s arm, and you are right to have questions about what happened.
While some birth injuries are unavoidable, you may be wondering if your doctor’s actions during delivery led to this outcome.
How this injury happens during birth
The brachial plexus is a complex bundle of nerves that connects the spinal cord in the neck to the hand, controlling the arm’s movement and sensation. When these nerves are damaged, it can result in Erb’s palsy.
This injury is commonly associated with a specific birth complication called shoulder dystocia. This is an emergency that occurs when the baby’s head emerges, but their shoulder gets caught behind the mother’s pelvic bone. In the moments that follow, the baby’s nerves are extremely vulnerable. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons explains that this type of nerve damage can range from mild, temporary bruising to a severe, permanent severing of the nerve.
When a doctor’s actions may be negligent
A doctor’s primary duty is to respond to complications like shoulder dystocia while adhering to the medical standard of care. An injury may be considered the result of negligence if the delivering doctor:
- Applied excessive force or traction (pulling) on your baby’s head and neck to dislodge the shoulder
- Failed to perform recognized, safe maneuvers to free the baby
- Used delivery-assistance tools, such as forceps or a vacuum, improperly
- Failed to anticipate a difficult delivery (due to a large baby size or maternal diabetes, for example) and did not take appropriate precautions, such as recommending a C-section
You can seek a professional review of your medical records to determine if one of these failures led to your child’s injury.
The lifelong impact of a preventable injury
While some mild cases of Erb’s palsy resolve, a severe tear can lead to permanent nerve damage. This can result in a lifetime of weakness, limited motion or paralysis in the affected arm. Families often face a future of costly surgeries, extensive physical therapy and ongoing medical care.
It is difficult for any parent to know whether an injury was a preventable mistake or an unavoidable complication. Determining if the standard of care was breached requires a careful review of all medical records by qualified professionals. Understanding your family’s rights is a critical step when navigating the complexities of birth injuries.