As many as 2 out of every 1,000 babies born in the United States have Erb’s palsy. While the condition is considered relatively rare, children born with Erb’s palsy have challenges that can sometimes follow them their entire lives.
Babies with Erb’s palsy experience partial or full paralysis of the arm due to nerve damage suffered during the birthing process. In some cases, a child may need surgery to repair the damage. Other times, a child will have one arm that’s weaker and smaller than the other. As the child gets older, their arm can cause the child to suffer both physically and mentally.
While Erb’s palsy usually develops during a difficult or prolonged labor, it can also be caused by the negligence of a doctor. If that’s the case, the family of the affected child may be able to file a lawsuit to get compensation for medical expenses and noneconomic damages like pain and suffering.