Erb's Palsy, also known as Brachial Plexus Paralysis, is a condition which mainly due to birth trauma can affect 1 or all of the 5 primary nerves that supply the movement and feeling to an arm. The paralysis can be partial or complete; the damage to each nerve can range from bruising to tearing. Some babies recover on their own; however, some may require specialist intervention. The following codes are used with International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. ... The following is a list of codes for International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. ... The brachial plexus is an arrangement of nerve fibres (a plexus) running from the spine (vertebrae C5-T1), through the neck, the axilla (armpit region), and into the arm. ...

Signs & Symptoms

Erb's Palsy is usually the results of shoulder dystocia in abnormal vaginal birth (1% of vaginal births) where the anterior shoulder becomes stuck in the birth canal, against the mother pelvis. Delivery may require great force to be aplied to the head inthe form of forceps, ventouse cap etc to deliver the baby. This distancing of head from arms stretches the ventral nerve roots of the cervical spine and can in some cases cause avulsions. The most common avulsion is at Erb's point - an area in the antereolateral neck (roughly corresponds to the roots C5 + 6) which damages the nerves supplying the ipsilateral upper limb. The muscles affected most are those supplied by the the Radial, Axilliary, Musculocutaneous and Median Nerves. This nerve damage causes weakness / paralysis most remarkedly in Deltiod, Biceps brachi, Choracobrachialis, Brachialis and the flexor mucless of the hand and wrist. It may also produce dysthesia throughout the arm. There will be marked weakness in;

• Shoulder flexion + extension (no derformity - balanced loss)
• Elbow flexion
• Supination
• Wrist flexion
• Extrinsic and intrinsic hand muscles of the Thumb and 1st & 2nd fingers'

This nerve palsy classically produces the "Waiter's Tip Deformity" . It appears as the person is asking for a tip → the arm extended & pronated, wrist is flexed, MCPs are flexed and PIP+DIPs are extended.

Treatment

Neonatal / paediactric neurosrgery is often required for avulsion repair. Lesions may heal over time and fuction returns. Physiotherapy is often required to regain muscle usage

A famous person afflicted by Erb's palsy was Wilhelm II of Germany. German Emperor Wilhelm (born Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albrecht, Prince of Prussia 27 January 1859–4 June 1941), was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia (de: Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen), ruling from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. ...

See also

• Klumpke paralysis
• Dystocia

Klumpke paralysis or Klumpke palsy is palsy of the brachial plexus. ... Dystocia (antonym eutocia) is an abnormal or difficult childbirth or labour. ...

References

Erb's Palsy Group NINDS