Is the network of dividing and anastomosing nerves within the neck and shoulder. Injury to this structure can occur at birth and the incidence of this ranges from 0.3 to 2 per 1000 births. Depending on the severity of the injury, some babies can recover after a few months.
Causes:
Brachial Plexus Palsy discovered at birth may occur due to trauma during delivery, trauma before delivery, amniotic bands, or congenital chicken pox. The majority of these injuries are due to trauma during delivery.
Severity:
There are many degrees of severity in a Brachial Plexus. The upper brachial plexus, or Erb's Palsy, is the most common type. It primarily affects the muscles of the upper shoulder and elbow. The lower type, or Klumpke's Plasy, is uncommon and affects primarily the hand. A true brachial plexus paralysis occurs when all five nerves are affected.
Approximately 9 out of 10 infants with a brachail plexus palsy can recover on their own. The functional outcome will depend on the degree of damage to the nerves.
Symptoms:
A limp or paralyzed arm.
A lack of muscle control in the arm.
A decrease in sensation in the arm or hand.
What to do, who to contact:
One of the first things you should consider doing is contacting a Pediatric Neurologist experienced in dealing with brachial plexus injuries. He/She will be able to tell you the severity of the injury and what steps you will need to take.
See a physical (pt) or occupational (ot) therapist to learn how to do Range of Motion exercises. These will help your childs joints from becoming stiff. You should also begin a regular visit with a PT or OT that is qualified to deal with this type of injury.
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