Cerebral Palsy & Erb’s Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is caused by an injury to the brain. The most common reason infants develop cerebral palsy is because they are born prematurely and the brain hasn’t fully developed. Babies that are born in the proper time frame can also develop cerebral palsy if there is a significant lack of oxygen to the brain during delivery. Cerebral Palsy is characterized by stiffness in the arms and legs and can be associated with seizures and/or mental retardation.

Since Cerebral Palsy comes with life-long consequences, it’s important to look at the facts and circumstances to determine if the hypoxia or asphyxia could have been prevented. Medical malpractice or negligence could be the cause of your child’s birth defect.

Erb’s Palsy is caused by an injury to the shoulder during child birth. An injury to the shoulder can tear or stretch an infant’s nerves, which controls their shoulders, arms, and hands. Erb’s Palsy occurs when the upper nerves are damaged.

There are four types of Erb’s Palsy:

1. Neurapraxia: The nerve is stretched, but not torn.
2. Rupture: The nerve gets torn, but remains intact to the spinal cord.
3. Avulsion: The nerve is torn away from the spine.
4. Neuroma: Scar tissue around the injury forms and places pressure on healthy nerves, which prevents them from sending signals to the muscles.

If your child was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy or Erb’s Palsy, contact an Arizona medical malpractice lawyer to review the situation and circumstances. Call (480) 648-8928 to speak with medical malpractice attorney, Jared Everton.