Cerebral Palsy Vs Erb’s Palsy

Two of the best known conditions arising out of birth injury are cerebral and erb’s palsy. Both the conditions result out of child birth complications but cerebral palsy can occur even after child birth.

Cerebral Palsy and Erb’s Palsy

When an unborn or newborn child’s brain parts coordinating muscle movements are affected in an injury then the condition is generally termed as cerebral palsy. The severity of the condition is largely based on the damaged parts of the brain and to what extent the brain has received a severe blow. The non-progressive nature of cerebral palsy prevents worsening of condition in the patient over the years. But symptoms of cerebral palsy can differ over the years.

Erb’s palsy, also known as brachial palsy, is a condition of torn or over stretched nerves network close to neck region. It is these nerves that account for feeling stretching from the arms to the fingers. When these nerves are wrecked, the child may face even permanent loss of movement of the hands, stretching from the arms to the fingers.

Cerebral Palsy and Erb’s Palsy  Causes

It has already been mentioned that cerebral palsy can occur before child birth, during child birth and during the first year of child birth. Therefore, the causes in each stage are different. Some of the well known causes of cerebral palsy are genetic disorders, inadequate flow of blood to brain owing to abnormal brain development, infection, bacterial meningitis, bleeding, injury on the head, jaundice, lack of oxygen, and use of harmful medicines by the mother during pregnancy.

Unlike cerebral palsy which might occur in a child before or after delivery, Erb’s palsy is a condition related to difficult delivery. The situations related to difficult delivery may be prolonged labor, breeched position or a large sized baby. Often, in such situations, the obstetrician applies external force so that the baby is released from the birth canal. The obstetrician often uses vacuum or forceps for the task. It is during these that the muscles of brachial plexus get torn or over stretched thereby causing Erb’s palsy in the newborn.
There are more chances that the child affected with Erb’s palsy recovers feelings on body parts and movements over a period of time.

Symptoms Of Cerebral Palsy and Erb’s Palsy

The symptoms of the disease do not show up at once and develop over a considerable period of time. However, there are certain warning signs of cerebral palsy such as slow rate of development such as crawling, talking, etc. Deficient muscle tone, poor coordination, vision and hearing impairments and unusual posture are also considered to be possible signs of cerebral palsy.

Some of the common symptoms of Erb’s palsy are paralyzed arm, lack in muscle coordination and control throughout the hands and lack of sensation or feeling in hands. Also, the Erb’s palsy is known by varied names depending on which part of the limb is affected. It is called brachial plexus injury when upper arm is affected. Erb’s paralysis is the name given to the condition when rotation of lower arm is also difficult. Klumpke paralysis is the name given to the condition when the entire hand is affected and eyelids start drooping.

Cerebral Palsy and Erb’s Palsy Treatment

In case of cerebral palsy, the child is treated with medications based on isolated and general spasticity. Also, speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy are resorted to make the condition of the child better.

In case of Erb’s palsy, physical therapy helps in case of mild tear and prevents stiffening of the arm. Gentle massage as well as motion therapy should be resorted to bring strength to muscles of the child. In case of severe nerve damage, surgery should be resorted to.