About duchenne-erb syndrome

What is duchenne-erb syndrome?

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 duchenne-erb syndrome?

Arm weakness symptom was found in the duchenne-erb syndrome condition

A Paralysis of the muscles of the upper arm and shoulder girdle due to an injury to the roots of fifth and sixth cervical roots or the upper part of the brachial plexus, a network of spinal nerves that originates in the back of the neck, extends through the axilla (armpit), and gives rise to nerves to the upper limb. The brachial plexus is formed by the union of portions of the fifth through eighth cervical nerves and the first thoracic nerve, all of which come from the spinal cord. In Erb palsy, the arm is internally rotated and hangs limply at the side.

What are the causes for duchenne-erb syndrome?

Duchenne-erb's syndrome or erb's palsy is a nerve condition in the shoulder and arm that results in weakness or loss of muscle function. A brachial plexus is a group of five nerves that connect the spine to the arm and hand.

  • These nerves allow your shoulder, arms, and hands to feel and move.
  • If these brachial plexus nerves don't work well due to stretching or tearing, the condition is called brachial plexus palsy.
  • Erb's palsy is the most common type of brachial plexus palsy.
  • It involves the upper nerves in the plexus.
  • Palsy is another name for partial or complete loss of muscle function - muscle weakness.


Causes in newborn

  • A newborn may develop Duchenne-erb syndrome during delivery.
  • Sometimes, your healthcare provider has to shift your baby's head to one side during birth to get their shoulders out.
  • The brachial plexus nerves from the neck to the shoulder may stretch or even tear.
  • A newborn can also develop Duchenne-erb syndrome due to the way they were lying in the uterus (womb) during pregnancy and once labour begins.


Causes in adults

  • Traffic accidents, most often those involving motorcycles, are the most common cause of brachial plexus injuries in teenagers and adults.
  • Other causes of these injuries include gunshot or knife wounds, industrial accidents, accidents related to contact sports like football, surgical complications or tumors.
  • These types of injuries are more likely to happen to men.


Symptoms
Nerve condition in the shoulder and arm that results in weakness or loss of muscle function,Paralysis or limpness of the shoulder, arm and elbow
Conditions
Pain and muscular dystrophy in the brachial region of the body, common in infants
Drugs
Physical therapy,Hydrotheray,Exercises

What are the treatments for duchenne-erb syndrome?

Treatment of Duchenne-erb syndrome depends partly on how severe the injury is. Some cases resolve by themselves within three to four months. But, most likely, the healthcare provider will suggest that you do exercises and physical therapy with your baby from about the age of three weeks.

  • The range-of-motion and stretching exercises will help prevent stiffness in your baby's arm, hand and wrist. You'll want to avoid joint contracture (permanent joint stiffness). Follow your provider's instructions about how many times to do the movements each day.
  • Hydrotherapy combines exercise with water. The water provides support that makes exercise less painful.
  • 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.
  • If the palsy hasn't improved before your baby is 6 months old, your provider might recommend surgery, including:
  • Nerve repair- these surgeries include nerve grafts, nerve transfers, neurolysis and nerve decompression.
  • Muscle repair- this involves a muscle or tendon transfer to replace the damaged tissue with tissue from another place in the body.
  • It's important to realize that any type of nerve repair and regrowth happens slowly - the results aren't immediate.


Symptoms
Nerve condition in the shoulder and arm that results in weakness or loss of muscle function,Paralysis or limpness of the shoulder, arm and elbow
Conditions
Pain and muscular dystrophy in the brachial region of the body, common in infants
Drugs
Physical therapy,Hydrotheray,Exercises

What are the risk factors for duchenne-erb syndrome?

Erb's palsy or Duchenne-erb syndrome is the most common type of brachial plexus palsy. It involves the upper nerves in the plexus. Palsy is another name for partial or complete loss of muscle function - muscle weakness our types of brachial plexus injuries:

  • An avulsion is when the nerve rips away from the spine and is the most serious type of Erb's palsy.
  • Rupture is when the nerve is torn, but not from the spine.
  • A neuroma is when the nerve has torn and healed but has left scar tissue. The scarred tissue puts pressure on the injured nerve and prevents it from conducting signals to the muscles.
  • Neurapraxia is when the nerve is stretched but not torn. Neurapraxia is the most common type of brachial plexus injury.
  • Common risk factors Traffic accidents, most often those involving motorcycles, are the most common cause of brachial plexus injuries in teenagers and adults.
  • Other causes of these injuries include gunshot or knife wounds, industrial accidents, accidents related to contact sports like football, surgical complications or tumors.
  • Traffic accidents, most often those involving motorcycles, are the most common cause of brachial plexus injuries in teenagers and adults.
  • Other causes of these injuries include gunshot or knife wounds, industrial accidents, accidents related to contact sports like football, surgical complications or tumors.


Symptoms
Nerve condition in the shoulder and arm that results in weakness or loss of muscle function,Paralysis or limpness of the shoulder, arm and elbow
Conditions
Pain and muscular dystrophy in the brachial region of the body, common in infants
Drugs
Physical therapy,Hydrotheray,Exercises

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