Erbs Palsy Treatment in Newborn

Erb’s palsy is among the most common birth injuries caused by a difficult delivery. Erb’s palsy disrupts nerve communication along the brachial plexus, the network of nerves located between the neck bones and arm. This nerve damage results in a condition characterized by arm weakness and loss of motion and may cause paralysis of the arm. While most cases of Erb’s palsy resolve by themselves in three to five months, some babies may need treatment, which can include rehabilitation therapy or even surgery.

In rare cases, children may face permanent disability. For best results, it’s a good idea to start both physical and occupational therapy as soon as possible. Physicians often prescribe physical therapy for infants with Erb’s palsy. This therapy involves a series of exercises to strengthen the area and correct nerve damage. These gentle exercises are designed to increase the range of motion and promote natural movements with the ultimate goal of restoring full arm functionality.

Growing children recovering from Erb’s palsy can still engage in recreational activities that promote development and help restore functionality such as climbing, swimming, throwing, and crawling. Some physical therapists recommend using tape, braces, or splints to encourage proper alignment and train the baby’s wrist, arm, hand, and shoulder to move in natural anatomical ways. Gentle occupational therapy stimulates fine motor skills and helps a child with Erb’s palsy lead a full life.

In some cases, it may help babies regain use of their arms and fingers over time. For instance, massage, range of motion movements, and stretching may help the child develop a wider range of motion. A pediatric physical therapist can demonstrate how to perform therapy for Erb’s palsy at home. This can help ensure the best results as the baby grows older. Plus, it’s also an excellent opportunity for parents to bond with their babies. Medical professionals may also recommend hydrotherapy along with physical therapy to achieve the best possible results.

Hydrotherapy involves the use of soothing water treatments to stimulate natural movement and reduce stress on your baby’s arm. Aquatic exercise can also reduce pain and help children increase their range of motion as well as boost fine motor skills. Unfortunately, therapy alone doesn’t always lead to complete recovery. In some cases, babies also require surgery to reverse nerve damage and restore feeling and movement in the injured arm. There are several potential surgeries depending on the severity of the damage.

A nerve graft involves removing nerves from somewhere else in the child’s body and implanting them to support the weakened brachial plexus nerves. Nerve decompression procedures use an incision to relax or decompress the nerves if they’ve become tight. After corrective surgeries, a child will need plenty of time to recover along with physical therapy to retrain the muscles and nerves and improve range of motion.

While these traditional treatments remain the top choices to treat Erb’s palsy, physicians may also recommend other treatments. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation, or NMES, stimulates the damaged nerve with electric currents, which can improve blood flow to the injured area as well as build muscle. Some doctors prescribe it to minimize weakness in the affected arm until the baby can use it naturally. Another treatment involves botulinum toxin A, better known as Botox, which temporarily paralyzes muscles at the injection site. Botox wears off within three to four months, at which point normal muscle function returns.

Doctors might recommend the use of Botox to immobilize primary muscles and give the baby’s weaker muscles a chance to develop more quickly. The costs associated with both traditional treatments like occupational and physical therapy and non-traditional therapies such as Botox and NMES can vary greatly. Many insurance policies may cover some or all of surgical expenses, but it’s always a smart move to check with your insurance company to see what types of treatment are covered.

Parents of a child with Erb’s palsy need to brace themselves for a hard truth. Between co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses, the overall treatment for Erb’s palsy can become quite expensive. The cost may exceed the budgets of many families. That’s just one reason it’s imperative to know if your child’s condition might have been the result of mistakes made by medical professionals during delivery. Therefore, it’s important to speak with a birth injury attorney to find out if you might be eligible to recover the expensive cost of treatment.

If you believe your child’s Erb’s palsy was caused by another person’s wrongful, negligent, or reckless actions, you should seek legal help. Contact us at Birth Injury Center to schedule a free consultation for legal assistance. If you think your child’s Erb’s palsy was a result of medical negligence, you may be entitled to compensation to cover the cost of therapy and your child’s long-term care.

You can learn more about causes, treatments, family forums, parent support groups, and more by visiting us at Birth InjuryCenter.org. The Birth Injury Center is here to assist you, offering consultations and abundant resources for your own peace of mind.