Top Philadelphia Erb's Palsy Lawyer

Erb’s palsy is a loss of movement or weakness of the arm that occurs when the brachial plexus, a bundle of nerves around the shoulder, are damaged during birth. Such nerve damage is reported in as many as three out of every thousand births in the U.S. Sometimes it's the result of medical malpractice.

The most common cause of Erb’s palsy is shoulder dystocia, abnormal or difficult childbirth, or labor.

It can result from the infant’s head, and neck pulling toward the side as the shoulders pass through the birth canal, pulling on the infant’s shoulders during a head-first delivery, and pressure on the baby’s raised arms during a breech delivery.

The signs of Erb’s palsy include loss of sensation in the arm and paralysis and atrophy of the deltoid, biceps, and brachialis muscles.

The Philadelphia Erb's palsy lawyers and on-staff physicians at Ross Feller Casey have successfully handled a long list of cases involving Erb’s palsy and shoulder dystocia and stand out as the recognized legal experts for such cases.

The team includes Dr. Charles Bowers, one of the nation’s leading OB/GYN physicians.

Ross Feller Casey has a team of leading doctors right on staff to help handle all birth injury cases, including Erb’s palsy lawsuits.

The firm's Erb's Palsy attorneys handle cases on a contingency basis, so there will never be a cost to you unless there is a financial recovery in your case.

What Does A Diagnosis Of Erb’s Palsy Mean?

Erb’s palsy is a medical condition that involves weakness or paralysis of the arm from nerve damage. It’s sometimes called brachial plexus birth palsy because it involves a brachial plexus injury, and it often happens to newborns during an abnormal or difficult delivery. Erb’s palsy affects the nerves of the neck that control upper arm motion. It turns the muscles involved inward, which disrupts the baby’s mobility. During childbirth, this condition can happen if a baby’s neck is stretched as the head and shoulders move through the birth canal.

While many cases of Erb’s palsy are minor, and sometimes even improve on their own, some cases are severe, requiring different types of treatments, surgeries, and ongoing therapy for the child.  There are times that Erb’s palsy occurs due to a difficult delivery, but often it is due to negligence by medical professionals. When medical negligence is involved, parents may be able to seek compensation for the birth injury by hiring an experienced Erb's palsy attorney.

What Are The Types Of Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s palsy cases are not all the same. Several different types are categorized according to the variety of nerve damage. The types are:

• Avulsion – This typically happens when the nerve is completely torn from the spinal cord.
• Rupture – This occurs when the nerve is torn, but not from its attachment to the spinal cord.
• Neuroma – Neuroma is when the nerve has tried to heal, but scar tissue has developed, placing pressure on the damaged nerve praxis.
• Neuropraxia – The mildest type of Erb’s palsy, neuropraxia happens when the nerve is stretched, but not torn.  

What Are The Risk Factors Of Erb’s Palsy?

Because Erb’s palsy typically results from the stretching or pulling of a baby’s head and shoulders during delivery by a medical professional, one of the most significant risk factors are the size of the baby. Larger infants are more likely to become stuck, which can lead to aggressive pulling on the head and shoulders of the baby to get the baby out. Other risk factors for Erb’s palsy include:

• The position of the baby in the birth canal. If the baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone, it can result in the pulling and stretching that lead to Erb’s palsy.
• If the baby develops shoulder dystocia during birth. This is when both shoulders of the baby become stuck in the mother’s pelvis during delivery while the head is being pushed out.
• The use of extraction instruments during childbirth. Using forceps or a vacuum extractor can produce too much stretching of the baby’s neck during delivery.

How Do I Find A Philadelphia Erb's Palsy Lawyer?

Not all cases of Erb’s palsy are serious, and not all are caused by medical malpractice. However, if you feel that your child’s condition is a result of negligence, you should look for experienced Erb's palsy attorneys to help you.

At Ross Feller Casey, we have helped many Pennsylvania and New Jersey parents of children with Erb’s palsy. We have experienced medical doctors on staff to review medical records and determine when and how medical malpractice occurred.

Call our office today to schedule a free initial consultation. We won't charge you a cent until your medical malpractice case is settled or won in court.