Impairment to the child depends on the location and severity of the nerve damage.Damage to the upper brachial plexus is called Erb's palsy and damage to the lower plexus is called Klumpke's palsy. Total plexus injury can also affect the face. Erb's palsy allows for little or no movement in the shoulder or arm. Klumpke's palsy has little or no movement in the wrist and hand. In worst case scenarios, damage affects the entire limb.
Here are four types of nerve damage from most severe to least severe:
1-The nerve is torn from the spine (avulsion).
2-The nerve is torn but not where it connects to the spine (rupture).
3-Scar tissue grows around the severed nerve as it tries to heal itself. The nerve cannot conduct signals because of the scar tissue. This happens after avulsion and/or rupture (neuroma).
4-The nerve is damaged but not torn and will normally heal itself without neuroma (praxis)
Because of the expense associated with brachial plexus injuries, a law firm will want to wait to determine how severe the injury is. Damages will have to be permanent. Avulsion and rupture usually result in some degree of permanent injury.
Source: justice.org, from an article written by Lon Walters
