Baltimore Birth Injury Lawyer

Representing Families of Babies Born with Erb’s Palsy

The brachial plexus is the network of nerves in the shoulder that transmits signals to and from the spinal cord to the arms, hands and fingers. Damage to these nerves — conditions called Erb’s palsy or brachial plexus birth palsy — can cause paralysis, weakness and loss of sensation in the affected limb. A newborn can sustain a brachial injury during a difficult delivery, often as a consequence of the obstetrician’s mistake.

Immediate medical treatment may improve your baby’s functionality, mobility and sensation. Drawing from our 33 years of experience, a Maryland birth injury lawyer at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton, P.A. will pursue the financial compensation you need to obtain crucial medical care and rehabilitation services for your child.

Brachial Plexus Injuries are Often Preventable

Our team of Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers specializing in birth injuries investigates whether labor and delivery negligence was responsible for causing your child’s birth injuries. Obstetricians are trained to recognize high-risk pregnancies and fetal distress and to take action to avoid injury to the mother and her child. A doctor may recommend a cesarean delivery to reduce the chances of brachial injury if risk factors are present, including when the baby is in a breech position or is larger than average size or the mother is diabetic. During the delivery, advances in childbirth medicine can prevent such harmful actions as pulling on the baby’s shoulder or allowing prolonged pressure to be placed on the baby’s arm.

Treating Erb’s palsy

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) estimates that one to two out of every 1,000 babies have Erb’s palsy. The severity of symptoms depends on the extent of damage to the nerves, which can range from bruising or stretching to tearing.

Unlike cerebral palsy, a condition that arises from damage to a child’s brain, Erb’s palsy is typically confined to the shoulder region. Therefore, treatment focuses directly on the shoulder, neck and affected limb. Your child may require surgery or medications to repair damage and trigger nerve regeneration and will likely undergo rehabilitation, including:

  • Hydrotherapy
  • Nerve graft surgery
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Tendon and muscle release

Based on your child’s prognosis for recovery and doctors’ recommendations for treatments, our attorneys calculate damages for medical care, disabilities and diminished quality of life.

Baltimore Birth Injury Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Recover Compensation for Your Baby’s Brachial Plexus Injuries

To learn more about recovering damages for your baby’s brachial palsy, call a Maryland birth injury lawyer at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton, P.A. at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact our firm online to schedule your free initial consultation. We are available by phone 24 hours a day for victims of accidents.