Erb's Palsy, also referred to as Brachial Plexus Palsy or Shoulder Dystocia is an obstetric emergency associated with the potential to injure both mother and child. It occurs when the baby's anterior shoulder becomes trapped behind the mother's pubic bone and the baby cannot come out of the birth canal. It is diagnosed when the infant's head delivers but the shoulders and body fail to follow. Even the slightest traction on the baby's head can cause injury to the brachial plexus, which is the bundle five nerves that controls the muscles in the shoulder, arm and hand. This nerve injury to a baby can vary in severity from slight stretching of the nerves causing weakness to rupture of the nerves causing complete arm paralysis.

Possible Symptoms:

• a limp or paralyzed arm
• lack of muscle control in the arm or hand
• a decrease of sensation in the arm or hand

The Brachial Plexus is located on the right and left side of one's neck, between the neck and shoulder area. It is a group of nerves that run from the spinal cord through the arm to the wrist and hand.

There are four types of nerve injuries that can result in brachial plexus palsy:

• Avulsion: the nerve is completely torn away from the spine.
• Rupture: the nerve is completely torn, but not where it attaches to the spine.
• Praxis/Stretch: the nerve is injured/damaged, but is not torn. This type of injury may heal on its own.
• Neuroma: scar tissue has developed around the nerve as it heals. The nerve cannot conduct signals from the spine to the arm/hand, because of the pressure put on the nerve by the scar.

Injuries can limit one's ability to perform various movements, such as but not limited to reaching over the head, straightening the arm, grasping objects, etc.