Klumpke’s palsy is a rare condition, affecting the mobility of the wrist and hand. Most infants with Klumpke’s palsy have a more mild form of injury (neuropraxia) and often recover within 6 months. In more serious cases, the nerve damage that causes Klumpke’s palsy is too severe for a child to recover on their own.
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Though there is no direct cure, a Klumpke’s palsy lawyer can help you get financial compensation for your child’s injuries.
If your child’s Klumpke’s palsy was caused by the negligence of a medical professional or hospital, you may be entitled to compensation for all the present and future expenses the injury will cost you. To learn more, contact the expert birth injury law team at Merson Law PLLC.
If you are unsure of whether you have a birth injury case, you can contact Merson Law PLLC for a free initial consultation, or read on to learn more about Klumpke’s palsy.
Klumpke’s palsy is named after the first person to document and describe the condition, Augusta Déjerine-Klumpke. Klumpke was also the first female medical intern to work in Paris and has contributed greatly to modern understanding of neuroanatomy (the workings of the brain).
What is Klumpke's Palsy?
Klumpke’s palsy is also referred to as Klumpke’s paralysis, Dejerine-Klumpke palsy, or simply Klumpke palsy.
It is named after the first person to document and describe the condition, Augusta Déjerine-Klumpke. Klumpke was also the first female medical intern to work in Paris and has contributed greatly to modern understanding of neuroanatomy (the workings of the brain).
Klumpke’s palsy is a partial paralysis (palsy) of the hands and wrist, caused by damage to nerves in the shoulder, called the brachial plexus.
Klumpke’s palsy is a rare disease, as listed by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD). It affects fewer than 200,000 Americans.
Even though it is rare, Klumpke’s palsy can have adverse effects on quality of life, as it limits use of the hands.
Causes of Klumpke’s Palsy
Most commonly, Klumpke’s palsy is caused by injury during childbirth. Shoulder dystocia can cause complications that lead to Klumpke’s palsy.
When a baby’s shoulder is trapped in the birth canal, the pressure exerted on it can damage the intricate nerve system known as the brachial plexus.
Klumpke’s palsy occurs when the lower “roots” of the brachial plexus are injured. This prohibits the brain’s signals from reaching the hand, limiting your baby’s ability to move it.
Damage to the upper portions of the brachial plexus leads to Erb’s palsy.
In some cases, a doctor can make a mistake that either directly injures the infant, or causes a medical emergency such as shoulder dystocia.
Klumpke’s palsy is mostly associated with infants, but it is possible to get Kumpke’s paralysis as an adult. Injury or a tumor can damage the brachial plexus and cause the condition in adults just as it would in children.
What is Klumpke’s Palsy?
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- $11.3 million jury verdict for brain damage child
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Signs & Symptoms of Klumpke’s Palsy
A baby with Klumpke’s palsy may exhibit a number of symptoms, including:
- Muscle atrophy, primarily in the forearm and hand
- Limp or paralyzed arm
- Weakness or numbness of the arm or hand
- Pain, which can range from mild to severe
- Stiff joints in the hand and wrist
- Horner’s syndrome, a drooping of the eyelid on one side of the face
In severe cases, “claw hand,” where the forearm lies flat but the wrist and fingers are tightened into a “claw” shape.
Fortunately, in mild cases, the condition often resolves within six months with physical therapy.
In more serious cases, surgery may be required to repair damaged nerves.
In severe cases, or in the case of medical error during surgery, a child with serious Klumpke’s palsy may never recover. They may end up with a permanent disability, including paralysis in the affected arm.
Treatments for Klumpke’s Palsy
The majority of cases of Klumpke’s palsy require very little treatment. In mild cases, doctors may recommend gently massaging your baby’s arm or performing range-of-motion exercises.
These treatments should not be performed without first consulting a doctor.
In serious cases, your child may require surgery on the nerves affecting their hand or hands. This could be a nerve graft, neuroma excision or some other procedure.
A tendon transfer may also be needed to help the muscles that are affected by nerve damage work better.
These surgeries, and the physical therapy required after them, are often expensive and can require large amounts of your time.
A Klumpke’s palsy lawyer, like those at Merson Law, can help you recoup these expenses.
Get connected with emotional, medical, and financial help
We understand how important it is for you to get back to some normalcy and give your child the best life possible. The New York Birth Injury Guide can provide you with the information and resources that fit you and your family’s needs.
What nerves are damaged in Klumpke’s palsy?
Klumpke’s palsy is a partial paralysis (palsy) of the hands and wrist, caused by damage to nerves in the shoulder, called the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves that connect the brain to the muscles in the arm and hands. Klumpke’s palsy occurs when the lower parts of the brachial plexus are damaged.
What is the difference between Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy?
Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy both affect the brachial plexus, the bundle of nerves in the shoulder that carries movement and sensory signals from the spinal cord to the arms and hands. Both Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy are caused by injury to these nerves.
The difference between the two comes into play when determining whether the upper or lower brachial plexus is injured.
Erb’s palsy is the result of the upper brachial plexus being paralyzed (the C5 and C6 nerves), while Klumpke’s palsy results from paralysis of the lower brachial plexus (C8 and T1).
Is Klumpke palsy same as claw hand?
Yes.
Klumpke’s palsy affects the muscles in the hands and wrist. Often, this paralysis manifests as a “clawed” or “hooked” hand.
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