North Carolina mothers like you hope for smooth, relatively easy births. This expectation is not without precedence. America has one of the lowest rates of infant mortality rates in the world. The same goes for the rate of birth injuries.
But this makes it even more devastating when birth injuries happen. Regardless of the reason, it is devastating to learn of an injury to your infant. Fortunately, some birth injuries have a good outlook. This includes Erb’s palsy.
What does Erb’s palsy look like?
Ortho Info looks at Erb’s palsy, also known as brachial plexus birth palsy. Palsies involve clusters of nerves damaged through various means. In the case of Erb’s palsy, it is the brachial plexus nerve cluster that faces damage. This nerve controls the arm, from the shoulder down to the fingers.
The severity of Erb’s palsy depends on the injury. Some children may experience numbness in the fingers and struggle to lift their arm. For other kids, they may suffer from total immobility of the affected limb.
The recovery rate of Erb’s palsy
But there is good news for you. The recovery rate of Erb’s palsy is high. In fact, most newborns with this affliction recover on their own. Daily physical therapy acts as a main treatment. It helps children overcome any lingering mobility loss. Sometimes, it can take up to 2 years for the nerve damage to get fully reversed. Also, your doctor may recommend surgery if they do not notice improvement by 3 to 6 months.
Surgery is not needed in most cases. Physical therapy and frequent visits to the doctor are enough. But the process can still end up emotionally and financially draining. If the injury was a result of medical negligence, it may benefit you to seek compensation.