If you believe that your child suffered an injury at birth, contact Oshman & Mirisola, LLP for a free consultation with an Erb’s Palsy lawyer. Our firm, founded more than 35 years ago, was formed with the guiding principles of service to our clients and excellence in advocating their cases. We strive to create an environment where every client's case is handled as the most important one in the firm.

Erb's Palsy is a type of brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that run from the spine through the shoulder and to the tips of the fingers. Brachial means arm, and plexus refers to a network of nerves. The brachial plexus conducts signals from the spine to the arm and hand. These signals cause the arm and hand muscles to move.

A brachial plexus injury (Erb's Palsy) is a nerve injury. The nerves that are damaged control muscles in the shoulder, arm, or hand. Any or all of these muscles may be paralyzed. Your child's disability depends on which nerves are injured and how severely they have been damaged.

Most brachial plexus (Erb’s Palsy) injuries happen during the strain of childbirth, when the shoulder of the baby gets caught and stretched behind the mother’s pelvic bone. Once the shoulder is caught, the brachial plexus can be compressed, stretched or torn.

There are 4 types of brachial plexus injuries:

• Stretch injuries vary depending on the amount of stretching. The nerves will often be compressed from swelling and bruising from the shoulder being caught. Stretch injuries are the least severe and will usually recover within 1 to 2 years with nearly complete function.
• Neuroma injuries involve scar tissue compressing the nerves and may require surgery to restore function.
• Rupture injuries involve the nerve being torn at several locations and require surgery and therapy to restore normal function.
• Avulsion injuries are when the nerves are pulled from the spinal cord. This is the most severe type of brachial plexus injury and requires extensive surgery including a possible muscle transfer to restore function.

Because most newborns with Erb's palsy recover without surgery, your baby will be examined again at one month and at three months to see if the nerves are recovering by themselves. It may take up to two years for complete recovery. During this time, range of motion exercises are very important to keep the baby's joints from getting stiff.

If you feel your child suffers from a brachial plexus injury such as Erb's Palsy and you wish to bring legal action to compensate your child for their physical and emotional damages, please contact the attorneys of Oshman & Mirisola, LLP. Contact us today at 1-800-400-8182, or contact us online for a free case evaluation.