[Neurophysiological assessment of children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy].

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of the neurophysiological evaluation of infants with brachial plexus palsy are to determine the time of occurrence of the lesion, to locate the lesion and to determine its course.

METHODS AND CONCLUSIONS: These objectives are achieved by studying affected upper extremity muscles by needle electromiography (EMG) and affected nerves by motor and sensory conduction studies. EMG is performed in the first week of life in those patients with brachial plexus palsy of unknown etiology to determine the age of the lesion for medico-legal reasons. EMG is performed before surgery for tendon transfer in the selected muscles to assure that they are normal. EMG and motor and sensory conduction studies are performed at the age of 3 and 6 months in infants with less than 4 muscle weakness to determine candidates for surgical exploration. Motor and sensory nerve conduction studies are performed intraoperative to determine the functional status of the affected axons and the best surgical procedure (neurotization, neurolysis and/or neuroma resection and homologous nerve graft).