MRCP revision battle 16.7: Erbs palsy

Erbs palsy is the name given to a particular brachial plexus injury, generally caused by shoulder dystocia during birth.


Any nerve root of the brachial plexus may be affected but the most commonly affected roots are C5 and C6.


This results in loss of:

• shoulder abduction
• elbow flexion
• suppination

The net outcome is that the arm hangs medially rotated with the forearm pronated = "waiters tip"


So thats all for today's battles - on to today's war to check recall of yesterday's battles!