What is Erb's Palsy?

What is Erbs Palsy?

Erb's palsy is a condition which, mainly due to birth trauma, can affect the primary nerves that supply movement and feeling to an arm. It is caused by a stretch injury to the brachial plexus, a network of nerves that sends signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Brachial plexus injuries are caused by damage to those nerves. Symptoms of Erb’s palsy may include a limp or paralyzed arm, lack of muscle control in the arm, hand, or wrist, and a lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or hand. It is estimated that one or two of every 1,000 babies have this condition.

There are four main types of nerve injuries an infant may experience as a result of delivery trauma. A stretch injury that "shocks," but does not tear, the nerve is the most common type. This is called a neurapraxia, which commonly heal on their own, usually within three months. Neurapraxia is not limited to infants; it can happen in adults as well. For example, football players who are injured during play sometimes refer to these injuries as "burners and stingers.''

The second type of stretch injury damages some of the nerve fibers and may result in scar tissue. This scar tissue presses on the remaining healthy nerve, creating a condition called a "neuroma." Some, but not total, recovery usually occurs. The third type of stretch injury is one that causes the nerve to be torn apart (ruptured) and will not heal on its own. A rupture happens when the nerve itself is torn, making recovery impossible without medical intervention, usually involving surgery.

The fourth and most serious type of injury, an "avulsion," happens when the nerve is torn from the spinal cord completely. While ruptures and avulsions are the most serious types of nerve injury, it may be possible to repair a nerve rupture by splicing a donor nerve graft from another nerve of the child. This is only possible if the nerve avulsion is not directly connected to the spinal cord. In some cases, it may be possible to restore some function in the arm by using a nerve from another muscle as a donor.

Peter Kent is the best-selling author of 50 books and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles.