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Erb's Palsy
Klumpke Paralysis :: Erb-Duchenne Paralysis
Shoulder Dystocia :: Brachial Plexus
Erb's palsy (aka - Klumpke paralysis; Erb-Duchenne paralysis) is a type of injury in which a network of nerves in the neck, known as the brachial plexus, is stretched - in most cases - during the birthing process. The resulting injury is a loss of movement and feeling in the arm, hand and fingers.
Some figures reveal that this type of injury occurs in one to two of every 1,000 babies.
Neurapraxia injuries (when the nerve has been damaged but not torn) typically heal within three months of birth without assistance. The condition can also be caused by excessive pulling on the shoulders during a head first delivery or by pressure on the raised arms during a breech (feet first) delivery.
There are different forms of brachial palsy in an infant. The type depends on the degree of arm paralysis:
- Brachial plexus injuries may affect the arm
- Erb's paralysis may affect the upper arm and rotation of the lower arm
- Klumpke paralysis may affect the hand.
The infant may also have an eyelid droop on the opposite side.
The following may increase the risk of brachial palsy:
The treatment options can very from physical therapy to surgery and it usually depends on the severity of the injury.
The symptoms of Erb's Palsy are usually evident immediately or shortly after birth. The following signs in an infant who has suffered a brachial plexus injury may include:
- Lack of movement in the arm or hand
- Weak Grip
- Missing Moro reflex, which causes an infant to react when startled by a sudden, loud noise by stretching out the arms and flexing the legs
- Inability to maintain the arm in a normal position (flexed at the elbow and held against
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