About erb-duchenne paralysis
What is erb-duchenne paralysis?
Brachial plexus palsy, also known as Erb's palsy, is a paralysis or weakness of the arm caused by an injury to one or more nerves that control and supply the muscles of the shoulder and upper extremities (upper brachial plexus). It is more commonly seen in newborns (neonates) and is often the result of a difficult delivery. When it occurs in adults, the cause typically is an injury that has caused stretching, tearing or other trauma to the brachial plexus network. The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that conducts signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand.
There are four types of brachial plexus injury, avulsion, the most severe type, in which the nerve is ripped from the spine, rupture, in which the nerve is torn but not at the point at which it is attached to the spine; neuroma, in which the nerve is torn and has tried to heal but scar tissue has grown around the site; and neuropraxia (stretch), the most common form of injury, in which the nerve has been damaged but not torn.
What are the symptoms for erb-duchenne paralysis?
Erb-Duchenne paralysis is also named as Erb palsy. This Paralysis occurs in the shoulders and arms. The condition results in Weakness and functioning of muscle also reduces. It appears mostly in infants and occurs because of complications in delivery. This occurs in one child out of 1000 babies. It can also happen in adults, the reason may be stretching, tearing or trauma to the brachial plexus network and this is known as brachial plexus palsy.
1. Erb-Duchenne palsy mostly affects the elbow, arm (lower and upper arm both), shoulder. There occurs Numbness in hands.
2. The symptoms can differ according to the type of injury. How severe the symptoms of Erb-Duchenne can be known by injury to the brachial plexus.
3. Neurapraxia is a common type of injury, in this injury the nerves are stretched very far. This can cause burning sensation.
4. In neuroma injury, the infant takes a long time to recover because of scar tissue.
5. Avulsion is the severe injury to the brachial plexus, in which the nerves are separated from the spinal cord. It can also lead to permanent Paralysis and there may arise difficulty in breathing, dropping of eyelids etc.
6. Rupture generally is not curable. Tearing of the brachial plexus nerve is called rupture.
The few common symptoms of Erb-Duchenne are as follows-
1. Numbness
2. There appears Numbness in hands and arms i.e., burners and stingers
3. Limpness
4. Lifting of the arm and moving elbow becomes difficult due to limpness in arm, elbow, shoulder
5. Palm and fingers are affected
6. Loss of sensation in the arm
Symptoms
Loss of feeling in one arm,Partial or total Paralysis of one arm,Weakness in one arm,Numbness in one arm,Limited motion of the arm
Conditions
Paralysis or limpness of the shoulder, arm and elbow
Drugs
Stretching exercises,Hydrotherapy,Inject botulinum toxin (Botox®),Surgery
What are the causes for erb-duchenne paralysis?
Erb-Duchenne paralysis is also named as Erb palsy. This paralysis occurs in the shoulders and arms. This results in weakness and functioning of muscle reduces. It appears mostly in infants and occurs because of complications in delivery. This occurs in one child out of 1000 babies. It can also happen in adults, the reason may be stretching, tearing or trauma to the brachial plexus network and this is known as brachial plexus palsy.
Erb-Duchenne palsy mostly affects the elbow, arm (lower and upper arm both), shoulder. There occurs numbness in hands. The various types of Erb-Duchenne are-
Causes of Erb-Duchenne paralysis in newborns:
1. Due to complications in delivery, the infant may get affected from Erb-Duchenne paralysis.
2. In some cases, the head of the baby is shifted during delivery so as to get their shoulder out and this causes stretching of brachial plexus nerves resulting in Erb-Duchenne paralysis.
3. Excessive pulling, forcing can lead to this paralysis.
Causes of Erb-Duchenne paralysis in adults:
1. Accidents, injuries can lead to Erb-Duchenne paralysis in adults.
2. Also injuries during sports (football), tumors, etc., can cause palsy. This is most common in men.
Symptoms
Loss of feeling in one arm,Partial or total paralysis of one arm,Weakness in one arm,Numbness in one arm,Limited motion of the arm
Conditions
Paralysis or limpness of the shoulder, arm and elbow
Drugs
Stretching exercises,Hydrotherapy,Inject botulinum toxin (Botox®),Surgery
What are the treatments for erb-duchenne paralysis?
Treatment of Erb-Duchenne paralysis depends partly on the seriousness of the injury. Some injuries do not need treatment as they may be cured on their own in a few months whereas some injuries need healthcare support. Physical therapy and exercises may help in treating injuries.
Treatment for Erb-Duchenne paralysis:
1. Exercises: Stretching exercises will help prevent stiffness in your baby's arm, hand and wrist. You’ll want to avoid a joint contracture (permanent joint stiffness). Contact your healthcare provider to know about how many times to do the movements each day.
2. Hydrotherapy: This kind of therapy combines exercise with water. The water provides support that makes exercise less painful.
3. Botulinum toxin: Your provider might inject botulinum toxin (Botox®) to paralyze working muscles for a time to force weaker muscles to take over. They might also splint your baby’s hand to prevent it from curling inward and being rigid.
4. Surgery: Various surgeries are recommended such as- nerve repair in which nerve transfers, neurosis are included; muscle repair in which muscle transfer is done to replace the damaged tissue from other tissue from the body.
Symptoms
Loss of feeling in one arm,Partial or total paralysis of one arm,Weakness in one arm,Numbness in one arm,Limited motion of the arm
Conditions
Paralysis or limpness of the shoulder, arm and elbow
Drugs
Stretching exercises,Hydrotherapy,Inject botulinum toxin (Botox®),Surgery
What are the risk factors for erb-duchenne paralysis?
Risk factors for Erb-Duchenne paralysis
Many factors can lead to increasing the risk for a child to have Erb-Duchenne palsy. This may include-
1. Complications in delivery like C-section (cesarean)
2. Obesity of maternal: Maternal obesity increases the risk of a number of pregnancy complications.
3. Diabetes to maternal: Diabetes during pregnancy can negatively affect the health of women and their babies.
4. Second stage labor for more than an hour
5. Delivery tools like forceps or vacuum extractor:A vacuum-assisted delivery may cause serious health issues like brain or nerve damage. Complications of vacuum delivery include brain damage, can cause cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, newborn cephalohematoma, and more.
6. Abnormal maternal pelvis shape
7. Large infant
8. Breech birth
9. Previous pregnancy having shoulder dystocia
10. High infant birth weight
11. Forceful pulling of the arm
Symptoms
Loss of feeling in one arm,Partial or total paralysis of one arm,Weakness in one arm,Numbness in one arm,Limited motion of the arm
Conditions
Paralysis or limpness of the shoulder, arm and elbow
Drugs
Stretching exercises,Hydrotherapy,Inject botulinum toxin (Botox®),Surgery
Is there a cure/medications for erb-duchenne paralysis?
Medications are decided and done on the basis of the severity of the injury. Physical therapy and exercises may help in curing injuries. Stretching exercises can help the baby in movement of arm, hand, wrist.
Cure/Medications for Erb-Duchenne paralysis:
1. Exercises: Stretching exercises will help prevent stiffness in your baby's arm, hand and wrist. You’ll want to avoid a joint contracture (permanent joint stiffness). Contact your healthcare provider to know about how many times to do the movements each day.
2. Hydrotherapy: This kind of therapy combines exercise with water. The water provides support that makes exercise less painful.
3. Botulinum toxin: Your provider might inject botulinum toxin (Botox®) to paralyze working muscles for a time to force weaker muscles to take over. They might also splint your baby’s hand to prevent it from curling inward and being rigid.
4. Surgery: Various surgeries are recommended such as- nerve repair in which nerve transfers, neurosis are included; muscle repair in which muscle transfer is done to replace the damaged tissue from other tissue from the body.
Symptoms
Loss of feeling in one arm,Partial or total paralysis of one arm,Weakness in one arm,Numbness in one arm,Limited motion of the arm
Conditions
Paralysis or limpness of the shoulder, arm and elbow
Drugs
Stretching exercises,Hydrotherapy,Inject botulinum toxin (Botox®),Surgery