What Causes Brachial Plexus Injuries?

Although a Brachial Plexus (Erb's Palsy) injury can occur at any time, most Brachial Plexus injuries happen during birth. During the strain of childbirth, the shoulder of the baby could get caught and stretched behind the Pubic Symphysis bone (part of the Pelvis bone). Once the shoulder is caught, the Brachial Plexus can be compressed, stretched or torn as shown in red in pictured to the right.

Many babies with Brachial Plexus injuries are larger than average at birth. However, newborns of all sizes, including premature babies, can have these injuries. A larger baby will have a greater chance of getting caught behind the Pubic Symphysis bone and getting injured severely.

About 1 or 2 babies in 1,000 suffer Brachial Plexus injuries at birth. The symptoms of a Brachial Plexus injury include a limp or paralyzed arm and/or lack of muscle control in the arm or hand.

There are 4 types of Brachial Plexus Injuries:

1) Stretch injuries vary depending on the amount of stretching. The nerves will often be compressed from swelling and bruising from the should being caught. Stretch injuries are the least sever and will usually recover within 1 to 2 years with nearly complete function.

2) Neuroma injuries involve scar tissue compressing the nerves and may require surgery to restore function.

3) Rupture injuries involve the nerve being torn at several locations and require surgery and therapy to restore normal function.

4) 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.

Often the diagnosis is more complicated than one of the four groups above. Because different injury types may cause the same symptoms, it is difficult to know what kind of injury has occured. In addition, sometimes many nerves in the Brachial Plexus may be injured and the nerves may have different types of injuries.

Most Brachial Plexus injuries are usually mild and most will recover in 3 to 4 months. The more severe injuries may take 18 to 24 months to recover. During this recovery time physical therapy may be necessary. Gentle range of motion exercises and electrical stimulation of muscles need to be performed regularly to keep the joints of the arm supple and prevent atrophy.

• If you belive your doctor could have possibly prevented your baby's injury, find out your legal rights.
  
  
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