Team Approach: Management of Brachial Plexus Birth Injury

JBJS Rev. 2020 Jul;8(7):e1900200. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.19.00200.

Abstract

Brachial plexus birth injury is an upper-extremity paralysis that occurs from a traction injury to the brachial plexus during birth. Approximately 10% to 30% of children with a brachial plexus birth injury have residual neurologic deficits with associated impact on upper-limb function. Management of brachial plexus birth injuries with a multidisciplinary team allows optimization of functional recovery while avoiding unnecessary intervention. Early occupational therapy should be initiated with a focus on range of motion and motor learning. The need for microsurgical reconstruction of the brachial plexus can be predicted based on early physical examination findings, and reconstruction is generally performed at 3 to 9 months of age. The majority of children with residual neurologic deficits develop associated glenohumeral dysplasia. These children may require secondary procedures, including botulinum toxin injection, subscapularis and pectoralis lengthening, shoulder capsular release, shoulder tendon transfer, and humeral osteotomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Birth Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Birth Injuries / rehabilitation
  • Birth Injuries / therapy*
  • Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / diagnostic imaging
  • Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / rehabilitation
  • Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Patient Care Team*
  • Radiography
  • Surgeons