Lexington Erb’s Palsy Attorney

Pursuing Compensation in Medical Malpractice & Birth Injury Claims

When a baby is born, it is usually a joyous occasion. Unfortunately, things can happen during labor and delivery which can turn the experience of birth into a traumatic event for the newborn baby and his or her parents. Negligence on the part of the medical professionals who provide care to a mother and child during labor and delivery can cause birth injuries that can have severe health consequences for the child, the mother, or both. There are a number of different types of injuries that are commonly associated with medical negligence during labor and delivery. Brachial plexus injuries, including Erb's Palsy, are one such category of injury.

At Goeing Law, our Lexington medical malpractice lawyers have years of experience in handling a wide variety of cases. We know how to approach your case in a way that will best communicate your needs and circumstances to the court and that can hold the guilty parties liable for the injuries or losses you have experienced as a result of medical malpractice.

What is Erb’s Palsy?

The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that transmit signals from the spine out to the shoulders, arms, and hands. Erb's Palsy is a condition that results from stretching or tearing (during delivery) of the nerves which extend from a baby's neck through their shoulder. A baby with Erb's Palsy cannot flex their elbow or move their shoulder through a full range of motion. The degree of nerve damage that is present in each case of Erb's Palsy determines the likelihood that the affected individual will recover fully or partially from the injury.

Causes of Erb’s Palsy

Erb's Palsy is one of several types of birth injuries that involve damage to nerves in the brachial plexus. Brachial plexus injuries like Erb's Palsy are often associated with shoulder dystocia, a situation in which the baby's position makes it difficult for the baby's shoulder to be birthed. However, not every birth which involves shoulder dystocia results in a brachial plexus injury. When excessive force, such as that involved in the use of forceps or a vacuum extractor, is used by medical professionals to deliver a baby who is experiencing shoulder dystocia, Erb's Palsy and other brachial plexus injuries are much more likely to occur than if the shoulder dystocia is relieved by a change in the laboring mother's body position or a properly timed cesarean birth.