How can negligence result in Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s Palsy is a condition caused by damage to the brachial plexus, the network of nerves responsible for the movement and feeling in the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand.

These delicate nerves consist of thousands of fibres that carry electrical messages between the brain and the muscles. If these are damaged during birth, whether as a result of being stretched, ruptured or severed entirely, this can stop these messages from coming through and prevent the muscles from working properly.

For more information on Erb’s Palsy, read our article discussing its potential long-term impact.

Although it is not an exact science, there are several factors that make shoulder dystocia, and consequently the development of Erb’s Palsy, more likely.

The main factor is the baby being large and therefore too big for the mother’s pelvic opening. This means it is a greater likelihood that the baby’s shoulder will become stuck against the mother’s pelvic bone thereby causing shoulder dystocia.

It is therefore important for healthcare providers to perform all expected antenatal checks to assess whether the gestational size of the baby is larger than they would anticipate. If the baby is likely to be large, they could then recommend a caesarean section as an alternative, removing the risk of the baby becoming stuck during a natural birth. However, not all large babies suffer shoulder dystocia.

There are several other factors that are believed to make a difficult birth more likely:

• The mother putting on excessive weight during pregnancy

• Maternal diabetes

• The mother’s pelvis being abnormal or overly small

• The mother gave birth to another child that suffered shoulder dystocia

Again, testing and compiling an accurate medical history should take all of these factors into account, which may influence arranging a caesarean section rather than a natural birth.

Failure to perform these antenatal checks can mean that any signs that would have indicated a greater risk of shoulder dystocia during birth are missed. This may be considered negligent if the birth then results in the child being afflicted with Erb’s Palsy.

Of course, these factors do not always come into play – it is possible for large babies to be born naturally with no issue whatsoever, or for average-sized babies to suffer shoulder dystocia. Nonetheless, these checks should enable the healthcare providers to anticipate the best course of action to present minimal risk to both mother and baby.

As part of their training, midwives and obstetricians should learn the manoeuvres to perform should they be alerted to the baby suffering from shoulder dystocia during birth. There are a number of actions that they can take should this occur to alleviate the pressure on the baby’s neck and shoulder and cause as little damage as possible:

The McRoberts Manoeuvre

The most widely applied technique to overcome shoulder dystocia, this involves pushing the thighs on the mother outward and towards their chest to widen the pelvis. This is often used in conjunction with suprapubic pressure.

Suprapubic pressure

This is where an attendant will manually attempt to free the baby’s shoulder, either by pressing down on the mother’s lower abdomen or, in more difficult circumstances, placing their hand above the public bone and pushing the shoulder to one side.

The Gaskin Manoeuvre

If the above does not work, the mother may be positioned on all fours with an arched back in order to widen the pelvis even further.

Episiotomy

Where an incision is made in the perineum in order to increase the vaginal opening.

Failing to recognise the occurrence of shoulder dystocia until later than is deemed reasonable, incorrectly applying the above techniques or using excessive force can all be considered examples of negligence. This may then result in the baby suffering brachial plexus damage and consequently develop Erb’s Palsy.

Other examples of substandard medical care during birth that might heighten the risk of Erb’s Palsy include:

• Improper use of instruments for delivery such as forceps

• Excessive pulling on the arm or shoulder when the baby is delivered face-forwards (aka Occipito Posterior [OP] position or spine-to-spine delivery)

• Allowing the babies arms to be pulled backwards during a breech delivery

• Rushing the delivery

As you can see, there are numerous circumstances where the inappropriate actions or inactions of healthcare providers can directly influence whether a child is born with Erb’s Palsy, and the extent of the damage done to the child’s shoulder, arm and hand.

At Gadsby Wicks, our specialist solicitors thoroughly investigate birth injury claims brought to our attention to determine whether you have a strong claim. If so, we will work closely with you throughout to help you gain the answers you are seeking and secure the compensation that you deserve.

Get in touch with our team today, or complete our “Do I have a claim?” form to inform us of your situation.

Disclaimer

All content contained within this article is meant for general information only – this should not be treated as a substitute for medical advice from your doctor or another healthcare provider. If you require legal advice specific to your situation, please contact our team directly.

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Always consult your GP if you are concerned about your health and wellbeing, or speak to us if you require legal advice.