Archive for the ‘Erb’s Palsy’ Category

Childbirth brings with it many potential life-threatening complications, for both the mother and the child. There are times when the birth doesn’t go as intended, and the baby can get stuck in a compromising position inside of the mother’s womb. The child’s shoulders run the risk of getting stuck on the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery, and when this happens, the nerves of the baby’s necks are impaired, causing damage to its spinal cord. This damage can affect future movement and overall function of the fingers, hands, and arms—the damage to the spinal cord in this way is known as Erb’s Palsy. While some children that suffer this fate heal within 6-24 months, 10% will live with life-long injuries.