Klumpke’s Palsy – Incidence
Klumpke’s Palsy is a condition that results from damage to the lower brachial plexus at the C8 and T1 nerves. It can happen in various instances, mainly when the arm is forcefully pulled or moved in trauma, which results in tearing of these nerves. It is most commonly seen in newborns after a difficult birth.
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This condition is most often seen when a mother gives birth naturally to her child. She may be a small woman, and the baby could be of large weight. She may have difficulty having the baby on her own, and the doctor assists in the birth.
A common scenario is when the mother is delivering through a vaginal birth, and the doctor must pull the baby out. One arm may be extended, which causes the tearing of the nerves.
According to the Brachial Plexus Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, as many as 94 to 97 percent of these injuries happen in a normal vaginal delivery. Another one to two percent occurs when the baby is breech. Cesarean deliveries account for just another one percent of the diagnoses for Klumpke’s Palsy.
How Common is Klumpke’s Palsy?
The condition does not occur every day. In fact, all brachial plexus injuries, which include Klumpke’s Palsy, occur 2-2.5 out of 1,000 births. Furthermore, it has received a listing as a rare disease by the Office of Rare Diseases from the National Institutes of Health. To receive this designation, the condition must affect under 200,000 people in the United States.
While the fact that this condition is rare may be reassuring, it does not change your concern if you are one of the parents who have been impacted. It is important to find a doctor who is familiar with the condition to prescribe the appropriate treatment for recovery.