Rehabilitation for brachial plexus lesions

BACKGROUND: Physiatrists are facing with survivors from disasters in both the acute and chronic phases of muscle and nerve injuries. Similar to many other clinical conditions, neuromusculoskeletal ultrasound can play a key role in the management of such cases (with various muscle/nerve injuries) as well. Accordingly, in this article, a recent single-center experience after the Turkey-Syria earthquake will be rendered. METHODS: Ultrasound examinations were performed for various nerve/muscle lesions in 52 earthquake victims referred from different cities...

BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) of the upper limb are very common events within the pediatric population, especially following soft tissue trauma and bone fractures. Symptoms of brachial plexus nerve injuries can differ considerably depending on the site and severity of injury. Compared to median and radial nerves, the ulnar nerve (UN) is the most frequently and severely injured nerve of the upper extremity. Indeed, due to its peculiar anatomical path, the UN is known to be particularly vulnerable to traumatic injuries, which result in pain and substantial motor and sensory disabilities of the forearm and hand...

PURPOSE: To translate the Hand-Use-at-Home questionnaire (HUH), assesses the amount of spontaneous use of the affected hand in children with 18 bimanual activities, into Turkish and examine its validity and reliability on children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) or unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HUH was translated and cross-culturally adapted to Turkish and administered to children with NBPP ( n  = 25) and UCP ( n  = 42) between 3 and 10 years...

BACKGROUND: Obstetric brachial palsy (OBP) is a pathology caused by complications during childbirth because of cervical spine elongation, affecting the motor and sensory innervation of the upper limbs. The most common lesion occurs on the C5 and C6 nerve branches, known as Erb-Duchenne palsy. The least common lesion is when all nerve roots are affected (C5-T1), which has the worst prognosis. Virtual reality (VR) is commonly used in neurological rehabilitation for the evaluation and treatment of physical deficits...

INTRODUCTION: Brachial plexus traumatic lesions often lead to severe upper extremity deficits that dramatically compromise quality of life of mostly young patients. Optimal treatment aims to restore elbow flexion transferring various donor nerves. Phrenic nerve (PN) is a powerful source of transferable axons and, despite supraclavicular sectioning being the most used technique, it can be harvested through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: About PN harvesting, less than 20 articles were found in Literature...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors that cause impairment of hand function in children with an upper Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy (NBPP), we performed an in-depth analysis of tactile hand sensibility, especially the ability to correctly localise a sensory stimulus on their fingers. DESIGN: A cross-sectional investigation of children with NBPP, compared to healthy controls. The thickest Semmes-Weinstein (SW) monofilament was pressed on the radial or ulnar part of each fingertip (10 regions), while a screen prevented seeing the hand...

We diagnosed 66 peripheral nerve injuries in 34 patients who survived severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We combine this new data with published case series re-analyzed here (117 nerve injuries; 58 patients) to provide a comprehensive accounting of lesion sites. The most common are ulnar (25.1%), common fibular (15.8%), sciatic (13.1%), median (9.8%), brachial plexus (8.7%) and radial (8.2%) nerves at sites known to be vulnerable to mechanical loading. Protection of peripheral nerves should be prioritized in the care of COVID-19 patients...

Background  Secondary peripheral nerve injuries remain a significant perioperative problem due to patient positioning and contribute to reduced patient quality of life and exacerbated professional liability. Comorbidities and concomitant lesions can further elicit these injuries in patients undergoing spinal surgeries. Case Presentation  We report a case of a 70-year-old male polytrauma patient presenting with a left first-rib fracture and an adjacent hematoma around the brachial plexus without preoperative deficits...

The integrity of connective tissue sheaths surrounding the nerves influences both the severity and the potential for recovery of brachial plexus lesions. This study presents an innovative, early onset, multidisciplinary approach to obstetric brachial plexus palsy. This approach is aimed at functional recovery of the nerve lesion and includes mobilization of the fascia using the Fascial Manipulation® method. This case study discusses how, in addition to conventional treatment, interventions aimed at the fascial system can potentially affect tension around the neural sheaths, enhance proprioceptive input and facilitate movement to influence obstetric brachial plexus palsy outcomes...

OBJECTIVE: Implantation of an acellular dermal allograft between glenoid and humerus to restore a stable glenohumeral center of rotation in cases of irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears. INDICATIONS: Irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears with low-grade cuff tear arthropathy (Hamada grade 1 and 2) and isolated pseudoparesis for flexion. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Absolute: Infection, nerve lesions (brachial plexus, axillary nerve), concomitant irreparable subscapularis tendon tear, anterosuperior subluxation of the humeral head ("anterosuperior escape")...

INTRODUCTION: Obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) is a flaccid paralysis occurring in the upper limb during birth. The OBPP includes mild lesions with complete spontaneous recovery and severe injuries with no regain of arm function. Among the most promising rehabilitation treatments aimed at improving upper extremity motor activities in individuals with neurological dysfunctions, there is the modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT). The aim of this systematic review is to assess and synthesize the critical aspects of the use of mCIMT in children with OBPP...

The purpose of the study was to investigate families' concerns and service requirements during the Covid-19 lockdown. In case of tele-consultation, we also aimed to assess the effects of this service on coping and the family's worries. At end of lockdown, we contacted the parents of 67 obstetric brachial plexus palsy patients (0-10 years age) by e-mail. During lockdown, 42 of the families had had a tele-consultation with our team, while 25 reported that not receiving any service. A questionnaire consisting of 6 questions was sent to the families, and data were analyzed according to 4 age-groups...

The lack of active external rotation following a brachial plexus injury in adults is very disabling and very challenging to solve. If direct nerve surgery or nerve transfer fails or if the patient is seen too late, palliative surgery is the last resort. Shoulder fusion can stabilize the joint to increase strength at the elbow, but the patient loses all external rotation. A metaphyseal humeral osteotomy shifts the sector of mobility to push out the arm from the chest but does not restore any active external rotation...

OBJECTIVE: To assess gripforce in children with a C5 and C6 neonatal brachial plexus palsy, as it may affect hand use. Applying classic innervation patterns, gripforce should not be affected, as hand function is not innervated by C5 or C6. This study compares gripforce in children with a neonatal brachial plexus palsy with that in a healthy control group, and assesses correlations with hand sensibility, bimanual use and external rotation. METHODS: A total of 50 children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (mean age 9...

Elbow flexion paralysis is one of most significant deficiencies in the upper limb. When secondary to brachial plexus palsy or nerve trunk lesions, restoration of elbow flexion by means of early nerve surgery or palliative transfers should be part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Tendon transfers are indicated in long-standing palsies, in those who are poor candidates for nerve surgery or when the results of nerve surgery are inadequate. A regional pedicled muscle transfer is performed if available. In this case, a "strong" donor is preferred (pectoralis major with pectoralis minor transfer, triceps brachii to biceps brachii transfer, or bipolar latissimus dorsi transfer)...

Transferring a muscle's point of force application by modifying its distal insertion will modify its function. This is the basic principle of tendon transfers. Despite being less popular due to superior primary nerve repair results, hand surgeons must be familiar with them. When used according to the Ten Commandments we propose, they provide good and useful functional recovery. Obviously, it depends on the number of muscles available for transfer. Tendon transfer is useful not only in nerve trunk palsy and brachial plexus lesions but also in upper limb tetraplegia rehabilitation...

Brachial plexus palsy after C8-T1 nerve root injury is rare, but causes a loss of finger flexion and extension, which greatly limits the patient's grip function. It can benefit from nerve transfers if the diagnosis is made early. Otherwise, tendon transfers may be proposed. Transfers of the extensor carpi radialis longus and brachioradialis to the flexor digitorum profundus and the flexor pollicis longus, respectively, restores finger flexion and thumb flexion. Tenodesis of the extensor digitorum communis allows passive extension of the fingers during active wrist flexion...

OBJECTIVE: In this study, it is aimed to determine the risk factors associated with CRPS after stroke and the clinical parameters of the patients and the treatment agents used for CPRS METHOD: 213 hemiplegic patients with CRPS diagnosed in Group 1 and 213 hemiplegic patients without CRPS in group 2 (control group) were included in the study designed retrospectively. Demographic data of the patients, Brunnstrom stage, Modified Ashworth scale, Barthel index were recorded from patients files...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Enhanced remyelination of the regenerated axons results in functional re-innervation and improved functional motor recovery after brachial plexus root avulsion (BPRA). The neural cell adhesion molecule L1 (L1CAM, L1) regulates myelination and promotes regeneration after acute injury in the nervous system. Berberine (BBR) can exert neuroprotective roles against the lesion. Herein, we investigated whether berberine (BBR) can affect the expression of L1 and enhance the axonal remyelination in rats following BPRA...

Peripheral nervous system complications such as acute demyelinating polyradiculopathy and mononeuropathy may rarely develop after substance use. A 27-year-old man used illegal drugs the day before his admission to the emergency service. Initially, he was suspected for rhabdomyolysis, due to elevated blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, myoglobin, and creatine kinase levels. On Day 4, generalized edema and flask paralysis were noted in both upper limbs. The patient was diagnosed with bilateral brachial pan-plexopathy based on electrophysiological study results...