It is a medical condition due to nerve injury generally prevalent in infants. Weakness of muscles and arm paralysis are the results of this. Although most of the children get recovered, some don’t get recovered and have to live with injury for the rest of their life. It is also called Brachial Plexus Palsy, in case a bundle of nerves get damaged.
It is characterized by detecting paralysis, weaknesses, or any movement loss in arms during birth. This medical condition gets improved in most infants, but some can’t get away with it.
The Brachial Plexus
The nerves which can cause Erb’s Palsy after getting injured are known as Brachial plexus. This interconnected nerve network runs from the spine to either side of the arms through the neck. They enable the arm, hand and fingers to move and feel. Lower area nerves give sensation to hands and fingers, whereas higher-order nerves do the same for shoulders.
Typically, both the upper and lower arm parts get affected by Erb’s Palsy depending upon the injured nerve. Klumpke palsy or paralysis is a condition when the lower portion of the hand gets affected.
Symptoms:-
- Lack of reflexes on the affected area
- Less or no arm movement
- Comparatively very low grip in the affected hand
Types of Injuries:
Neurapraxia is the most common injury. In this, the nerves are stretched too much but don’t get torn or damaged.
A neuropraxia injury happens when nerves get stretched enough to cause some tearing. Infants affected by neuropraxia take time to get better, but most of them get recovered. A rupture takes place while some of the nerves can’t heal by themselves after injury.
The most fatal injury to the brachial plexus is known as an avulsion. In this manner,the nerves get separated from the spinal cord after injury. Both ruptures and avulsions are critical to health. Although a little recovery can be feasible through surgery, complete healing isn’t possible.
Causes of Erb’s Palsy
A most common reason for Erb’s palsy in toddlers is difficulty in childbirth.
Sometimes the injury is sudden and unavoidable. The medical doctor or midwife may additionally pull in a harsh manner or in extensively in one direction and end up injuring the brachial plexus.
This is most probably to occur due to the compulsions in delivery. Treatment: Fortunately, it is not that time taking and recovery generally happens within 3 to 6 months. The damaged nerves also get recovered easily.
In extreme cases, surgical remedies may be important. For torn nerves, grafting can be possible and may restore feeling and movement. A complete nerve replacement may work, but these are complicated surgical procedures and the rate of success is also low. There is also a condition that infants must be of at least 6 months for the surgery.
