Treatment for Erb’s Palsy

Erb’s palsy is caused by damage to the nerves in the upper shoulder, and affects about 2 of every 1,000 live births in the US. It can affect a child’s ability to lift and move the affected arm, and may even stunt this arm’s growth. It usually heals on its own with time, but some children require physical therapy or even surgical treatment.

During the first few months following a diagnosis of Erb’s palsy, the injured child will need to see a doctor on a regular basis. This will allow the doctor to track the nerves’ healing process. If there has not been enough progress after 3 or 4 months, medical intervention will likely be needed.

Physical Therapy

In most cases of Erb’s palsy, even minor ones, parents will be encouraged to exercise with their children on a daily basis. Because children with this condition cannot move the affect arm very much on their own, the arm’s muscles may atrophy without exercise. Specialists in the field can teach parents certain arm exercises designed to help with this condition.

These exercises are generally supposed to begin when the child is 3 weeks old. They should be conducted as many times per day as possible. This can be inconvenient for parents with busy schedules, but these exercises are very important. Without them, joints in the arm and hand can become permanently stiff.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery is used to repair the most severe cases of Erb’s palsy. Depending on the injury, the surgery may remove scar tissue from the nerve, connect nerves taken from the leg with the damage nerves in the arm, or combine the damaged nerves with healthy nerves in the same area.

Surgery on an infant always carries certain risks. However, if surgery is not done within the first year, the child’s odds of recovering full arm functioning can be greatly reduced. This is a difficult decision that should not be made without advice from a specialist in the field.

Contact Us

If your child was injured by a negligent doctor, call the Philadelphia Erb’s palsy lawyers Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-238-1130.