Erb's Palsy - An Overview and Parents Guide to Prevention

ERB'S PALSY ERB'S PALSY IS A CONDITION THAT CAUSES WEAKNESS OR PARALYSIS IN THE ARM OR SHOULDER OF AN INFANT DUE TO INJURY DURING THE BIRTHING PROCESS. THE INJURY IS CAUSED BY DAMAGE TO A NETWORK OF NERVES REFERRED TO AS THE BRACHIAL PLEXUS. THE CLASSICAL SIGN OF ERB'S PALSY IS CALLED THE "WAITERS TIP" POSTURE CAUSING THE ARM OF THE CHILD TO HANG LIMPLY FROM THE SHOULDER. THIS CAN CAUSE MONTHS OR YEARS OF REHABILITATION FOR YOUR CHILD. MOST CASES OF ERB'S PALSY THAT OCCUR ARE PREVENTABLE, WHICH IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR SOON-TO-BE MOTHERS TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON THIS CONDITION. GIVE ME THE STATS DURING LABOR, CLINICIANS CAN GREATLY UNDERESTIMATE THE FORCE THEY ARE APPLYING DURING DOWNWARD TRACTION AND CAN CAUSE TREMENDOUS DAMAGE TO THE BRACHIAL PLEXUS OF AN INFANT. THAT FORCE APPLIED BY THE OBSTETRICIAN ALONG WITH THE NATURAL EXPULSIVE FORCE OF THE UTERUS CAN BE A DAMAGING DUO. APPROXIMATELY 3-4 INFANTS OUT OF 1,000 WILL HAVE ERB'S PALSY ROAD TO RECOVERY RECOVERY IS DEFINITELY POSSIBLE, BUT CAN BE SLOW, COSTLY AND A VERY EMOTIONAL JOURNEY. RESOLVES COMPLETELY WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE TAKES MORE THAN ONE YEAR TO RESOLVE 20-30% 70-80% SO YOU KNOW STUDIES SHOW THAT MOST BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURIES ARE A RESULT OF SHOULDER DYSTOCIA DURING CHILDBIRTH. THIS IS A KNOWN OBSTETRICAL EMERGENCY AND A RAPID RESPONSE BY A SKILLED OBSTETRICIAN CAN MANAGE THE EVENT SUCCESSFULLY. IF THE CHILDBIRTH IS MANAGED BY PROPER MANUAL MANEUVERS, THEN NEARLY ALL CASES OF SHOULDER DYSTOCIA CAN BE RESOLVED WITH NO BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURY. PREVENT ERB'S PALSY PREVENTION OF BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURY CONTINUES TO BE THE GOAL OF AN OBSTETRICIAN BECAUSE MOST CASES OF ERB'S PALSY THAT OCCUR DURING CHILDBIRTH ARE PREVENTABLE. IF IDENTIFIABLE RISK FACTORS ARE PRESENT THEN THERE IS A GREATER POSSIBILITY THAT THE BABY WILL BE BORN WITH A BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURY. THEREFORE, THE KEY TO PREVENTING SUCH AN INJURY IS IDENTIFICATION AND OPTIMAL MANAGEMENT OF RISK FACTORS. PARENTS SHOULD EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES BELOW. Choose a reputable OB and If risk factors are high then Include Erb's prevention in your birth plan and identify risk factors as the pregnancy when the time comes make know what to do in case of sure qualified personnel are assigned to the deliver room. obstetrical emergency. progresses. RISK FACTORS Mothers who have had a Fetal Mother's with diabetes Prolonged labor Precipitous deliveries Mothers that Baby weight Breech prior child with shoulder malposition in the birth are small over 8.5lbs position canal dystocia For more information visit www.erbpalsy.org/prevention.html brought to you by www.erbpalsy.org Erb's Palsy •(•¢>•¢>