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Semin Plast Surg 2004; 18(4): 347-358
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-837261
Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Palsy: The Istanbul Experience

Berkan Mersa1 , Atakan Aydin2 , Turker Ozkan2
  • 1COSMED Plastic Surgery Center
  • 2Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Section of Hand Surgery, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
06 December 2004 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Among various congenital disabilities following birth trauma, brachial plexus palsy has remained one of the most devastating for many years. The debates about physical therapy alone versus surgical intervention, as well as the proper timing for surgery if indicated, are still open. In our institute, brachial plexus palsies with hand involvement and Horner's sign are surgically treated at the third month of age, and infants with insufficient elbow flexion undergo surgery at the fifth month. Although early neural reconstruction decreases the need for future reconstructive surgical procedures, the children can still have upper extremity deformities that may need to be treated by future muscle releases and transfers. We believe that in patients who missed the chance of primary neural reconstruction, satisfying shoulder function can still be achieved by palliative surgery before glenohumeral joint deformity occurs.

KEYWORDS

Obstetrical brachial plexus palsy - nerve surgery - muscle-tendon transfers

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Berkan MersaM.D. 

COSMED Plastik Cerrahi Merkezi

Yeni Sulun Sokak No. 105

Levent 80600, Istanbul, Turkey

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