The world of cerebral palsy – Erbs Palsy.

If you are just entering the world of cerebral palsy you have probably been overwhelmed with so much information. The terms alone can take you longer to figure out what they mean than to say. That says a lot since a lot of the terms are so long - like oligohydramnios, brachial plexus or polyhydramnios. (Definitions from the March of Dimes) Maybe we can figure out what amniotic fluid leakage means.

Brachial plexus is a network of nerves near the neck that is the source for all the nerves of the arm. These nerves assist in feeling and movement for the arm, extending in to the hand. Erbs Palsy (sometimes misspelled as erb's or erbs palsey) is the damage to these nerves that lead to a weakness in a baby's arm. It is normally caused by a over-stretching of the neck resulting in nerve injury.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has a very easy to understand explanation of issues involved with Erbs Palsy. They start with the anatomy of the damage leading in to cause, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. A good simple read to help anyone getting started in understanding cerebral palsy.