Erb's palsy accounts for nearly 60 percent of all brachial plexus injuries. The brachial plexus is an arrangement of nerve fibers running from the spine through the neck, the armpit region and into the arm. It controls movement of the hands, arms and shoulders. Erb's palsy refers specifically to injuries that involve the upper brachial plexus, or the muscles of the shoulder and elbow.

Erb's palsy typically occurs after an occurrence of shoulder dystocia during delivery. While some cases cannot be prevented, medical negligence may have played a role under the following circumstances:

• Doctor failed to obtain a thorough obstetrical history of the mother, including any previous history of diabetes, large babies, or difficult deliveries
• Doctor failed to check for gestational diabetes during pregnancy
• Doctor did not warn mother of excessive weight gain during pregnancy
• Doctor did not evaluate fetal size by ultrasound during the third trimester
• Doctor did not address late delivery date
• Doctor did not assign or request qualified medical staff to help manage delivery
• Doctor did not properly inform mother about need for caesarean section amid various delivery risks
• Doctor did not manage shoulder dystocia appropriately, including improper use of pressure on the abdomen (fundal pressure), forceps or vacuum extractor or excessive force on the head or neck during delivery

If you baby suffers from Erb’s palsy as a result of a birth injury in Illinois, the attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard can help you explore your legal options. For more information or to schedule a free, no obligation consultation, please contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard today.