New Jersey mothers expect excellent care when it comes to giving birth. After all, this is a monumental medical moment in their life. Modern technology makes giving birth a safe process in America. But that does not mean mistakes never happen.
Today we will take a look at Erb’s palsy. Potential mistakes during delivery can lead to this happening to a child. We will examine the overall ailment, as well as the prognosis for sufferers.
Causes of Erb’s palsy
The National Institutes of Health takes a look at several factors in Erb’s palsy cases. First, they look at who is most often at fault. Poor obstetrics are often blamed for Erb’s palsy. Some risk factors include a baby’s size. Whether they have experienced shoulder dystocia factors in, too. The former is sometimes a result of genetic issues. A baby can also grow to large sizes if the mother has diabetes.
As for shoulder dystocia, this is often the result of the birthing process. In some cases, an infant may get stuck on the way out. When trying to deliver the baby, the person making the delivery may accidentally tug on them too hard. This can pull their shoulder and stretch the nerves there. This results in Erb’s palsy.
Erb’s palsy recovery rates
The good news is that Erb’s palsy has a very high rate of complete recovery. Anywhere from 80 to 96 percent of the victims reach complete recovery. The chances are higher if improvement begins in the first two weeks after the injury. The primary recommended treatment involves a period of early immobilization. After that, both active and passive range of motion exercises aid in recovery. Within three to five months, most infants recover.