 Some
types of brain injury can include: Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries, Dejerine-Klumpke
Palsy
Children may sustain brain injuries due to a variety of causes, including accidents
or other trauma, infection, lack of oxygen, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Typical
problems for children with brain injuries include motor disabilities.
Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries A birth injury can be inflicted
or sustained by the child or mother during the birthing procedure due to negligence
or carelessness on the part of the doctor or medical staff employed by the hospital.
What to look for if you suspect your child has a brachial plexus injury
Children with brachial plexus injuries are affected in different ways. Brachial Plexus
Here are some examples:
-Some children have no muscle control and no feeling in their arm or hand.
-Some children can move their arm but have little control over the wrist and hand.
-Other children can use their hand well but cannot use the shoulder or elbow muscles.
-Specifically, at 3 months of age, if your child cannot: squeeze your fingers bend their wrist bend and straighten their elbow, or raise their arm it is recommended that you seek a referral to a brachial plexopathy clinic for further evaluation. Treatment for brachial plexus injuries is most effective when initiated between 3 and 6 months of age.
What are Erb-Duchenne and Dejerine-Klumpke Palsies?
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that conducts signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Brachial plexus injuries are caused by damage to those nerves. Erb-Duchenne (Erb’s) palsy refers to paralysis of the upper brachial plexus. Dejerine-Klumpke (Klumpke’s) palsy refers to paralysis of the lower brachial plexus. Although injuries can occur at any time, many brachial plexus injuries happen when a baby’s shoulders become impacted during delivery and the brachial plexus nerves stretch or tear. There are four types of brachial plexus injuries: avulsion, the most severe type, in which the nerve is torn from the spine; rupture, in which the nerve is torn but not at the spinal attachment; neuroma, in which the nerve has torn and healed but scar tissue puts pressure on the injured nerve and prevents it from conducting signals to the muscles; and neuropraxia or stretch, in which the nerve has been damaged but not torn. Neuropraxia is the most common type of brachial plexus injury.
Symptoms of brachial plexus injury may include a limp or paralyzed arm; lack of muscle control in the arm, hand, or wrist, and lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or hand.
Is there any treatment?
Some brachial plexus injuries may heal without treatment. Many children who are injured during birth improve or recover by 3 to 4 months of age. Treatment for brachial plexus injuries includes physical therapy and, in some cases, surgery.
What is the prognosis?
The site and type of brachial plexus injury determines the prognosis. For avulsion and rupture injuries, there is no potential for recovery unless surgical reconnection is made in a timely manner. The potential for recovery varies for neuroma and neuropraxia injuries. Most individuals with neuropraxia injuries recover spontaneously with a 90-100% return of function.
Brachial plexus injuries adults
Can Also occur in children or adults due to trauma to the neck or shoulder region, commonly from motorcycle or motor-vehicle accidents.
Causes and effects of brain injuries
Children may sustain brain injuries due to a variety of causes, including accidents or other trauma, infection, lack of oxygen, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Typical problems for children with brain injuries include motor disabilities, difficulty paying attention, difficulty with recent memory or new learning, inability to follow thought sequencing, difficulty with abstract thinking, impulsivity and poor judgment. These problems may not be visibly evident until the child reaches a certain stage of development, which could be years after the brain injury.
After recieving medical advice and help contact our lawyers to get informed of your legal rights.
Organizations
Brachial Plexus Palsy Foundation
c/o 210 Springhaven Circle
Royersford, PA 19468
Brachial@aol.com
http://membrane.com/bpp
Tel: 610-792-4234
Fax: brachial@aol.com
United Brachial Plexus Network
1610 Kent Street
Kent, OH 44240
info@ubpn.org
http://www.ubpn.org
Tel: 866-877-7004
National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC)
4200 Forbes Boulevard
Suite 202
Lanham, MD 20706-4829
naricinfo@heitechservices.com
http://www.naric.com
Tel: 301-562-2400 800-346-2742
Fax: 301-562-2401
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
askus@marchofdimes.com
http://www.marchofdimes.com
Tel: 914-428-7100 888-MODIMES (663-4637)
Fax: 914-428-8203
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 1968
(55 Kenosia Avenue)
Danbury, CT 06813-1968
orphan@rarediseases.org
http://www.rarediseases.org
Tel: 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD (6673)
Fax: 203-798-2291
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