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Home » Consumer Information » Medical Malpractice » Birth Injury

Brachial Plexus Palsy

When the brachial plexus, a web of nerves sprouting from the spinal cord, is harmed, brachial plexus palsy is the resulting condition. The brachial plexus is responsible for transmitting brain signals from the spinal cord, to the neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and finally, the fingertips. A paralyzed arm can be the culmination of such damage.

Brachial plexus injuries occur frequently during the childbirth process when too much lateral traction is applied to the baby's neck, and the upper region of the brachial plexus is affected. These injuries are primarily due to the intense stretching of the plexus. Babies with brachial plexus palsy are often larger than the mean size. However, babies of all sizes have the potential to suffer this injury. Between .1 and .2 percent of newborns sustain a brachial plexus injury during delivery.

Adults can also suffer a brachial plexus injury through medical malpractice. For example, a patient may be placed on the operating table with their arm dangling off the edge for the duration of the surgery. This position places prolonged stress on the brachial plexus and can cause serious damage if the patient is not shifted.

Whether the injury is inflicted upon a child or adult, there are four different injuries to the brachial plexus network that can result in some level of palsy:

  1. Avulsion -- nerve is disconnected from the spinal cord.
  2. Rupture -- nerve has a tear, but not where it is affixed to the spinal cord.
  3. Neuroma -- nerve has attempted to heal itself, but scar tissue has formed around the injury site. Although the nerve is damaged, it is a better predicament than being torn; significant strides should be made in three months in terms of mobility.
  4. Neuropraxia -- least severe of all nerve injuries. Neuropraxia is also the most common variation of Erb's palsy, and it only affects the precise spot where the injury occurs without any anatomical interruption. A lot of babies who are diagnosed with brachial plexus palsy at birth have neuropraxia. This may subside in as little as a month.

If you or your child has suffered a brachial plexus injury, you may be able to take legal action and be rewarded money for physical and emotional suffering, medical costs, and even lost wages.

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