Parents deserve immediate answers when a preventable birth injury shatters their joy. Our Columbia Erb’s Palsy attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. have protected Maryland families since 1984. We understand the shock, the medical bills, and the fear that your child’s future could be limited.
Erb’s Palsy is frequently avoidable when doctors follow proven delivery protocols. When negligence causes lifelong nerve damage, our firm steps in. Call (410) 234-1000 24/7 for a free consultation. We charge no fees unless we win compensation for your child.
What Is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s Palsy is a birth injury that weakens or paralyzes an infant’s shoulder and upper arm after damage to the brachial plexus nerves (C-5 to C-6, sometimes C-7). Roughly 1–2 out of every 1,000 U.S. births, about 12,000 infants each year, are affected. Many children recover partial function through therapy, yet severe cases leave permanent disability requiring lifelong care.
What Causes Erb’s Palsy and Could It Have Been Prevented?
Excessive stretching of a newborn’s neck or shoulder during a difficult delivery causes Erb’s Palsy. Shoulder dystocia, breech presentation, misuse of forceps or vacuums, delivering a large baby, and prolonged labor all place dangerous traction on fragile nerves. Competent obstetricians avoid these injuries by performing timely C-sections or using approved maneuvers. Because safe options exist, Erb’s Palsy is almost always preventable.
What Risk Factors Should Doctors Watch For to Prevent Erb’s Palsy?
Doctors can drastically reduce risk by identifying danger signs:
- Large baby (fetal macrosomia)
- Gestational diabetes
- Breech position
- Prolonged or stalled labor
- Maternal pelvic limitations or past difficult births
When any factor appears, a timely C-section or gentle, proven maneuvers protect the brachial plexus. Failure to act may constitute medical negligence.
Types of Erb’s Palsy and Related Birth Injury Cases
Brachial plexus injuries vary in severity. Our Columbia birth injury lawyers handle them all, including uncommon variants.
Erb’s Palsy (Upper Brachial Plexus Injury)
Damage to C-5 – C-6 nerves causes the classic “waiter’s tip” arm posture. Most children need therapy. Some require surgery.
Klumpke’s Palsy (Lower Brachial Plexus Injury)
Injury to C-8 – T-1 fibers weakens the forearm and hand and may create Horner’s syndrome. It is rarer but equally devastating.
Total Brachial Plexus Paralysis
All five nerve roots (C-5 to T-1) tear or avulse, leaving the arm without movement or sensation. These complex cases often demand surgical grafts and lifelong therapy.
Bilateral Brachial Plexus Injuries
Extremely rare twin-birth or traumatic deliveries can injure both arms. Our firm has the resources to navigate these demanding lawsuits.
Is My Child’s Erb’s Palsy the Result of Medical Malpractice?
Many Erb’s Palsy diagnoses traced directly to negligence. Excessive traction, improper tool use, ignoring risk factors, or delaying a necessary C-section violate Maryland’s standard of obstetric care. A Columbia Erb’s Palsy attorney like Jonathan Schochor will scrutinize medical records and consult experts to prove a breach caused your child’s injury.
