What Is Erbs Palsy?
Erb’s palsy is a condition that affects the mobility and function of the arms. Typically Erb’s palsy results from injuries sustained during difficult births. When a delivery involves shoulder dystocia, the fetus may suffer a brachial plexus injury, which means that the nerves connected to the affected arm are damaged.
Erbs Palsy is a type of Brachial Plexus injury. The Brachial Plexus is a network of nerves that run from the spine through the shoulder and to the tips of the fingers (shown in the right figure, the labeled nerves are part of the system). Brachial means arm, and Plexus refers to a network of nerves. The Brachial Plexus conducts signals from the spine to the arm and hand. These signals cause the arm and hand muscles to move. In the picture on the right, the Brachial plexus nerves are shown. Understanding Erbs Palsy Erbs Palsy (a Brachial Plexus injury) is a nerve injury. The nerves that are damaged control muscles in the shoulder, arm, or hand. Any or all of these muscles may be paralyzed. Your child’s disability depends on which nerves are injured and how severely they have been damaged. Children with Erbs Palsy are affected in different ways. Here are some examples: • Some children have no muscle control and no feeling in the arm or hand. • Some children can move their arms, but have
