New Mexico parents might like to learn about the various treatment options for brachial plexus birth palsy. Although the majority of babies with this birth defect eventually improve by themselves through a two-year period, many people choose to have the child examined by a physician to oversee with the recovery process.
Surgery is one option for treating brachial plexus palsy if the affected baby has not shown improvement in his or her first three to six months of life. Through microsurgery, a technique involving the use of special, tiny instruments and powerful microscopes, a surgeon may be able to repair the damaged nerves or restore part of its functions. This is commonly performed through either a nerve transfer or a nerve graft. In a nerve transfer, the surgeon transfers a nerve found from a muscle in the child’s body to the affected area. In the nerve graft, the surgeon grafts or splices a nerve from the child’s body to the ruptured nerve.
Following either of these surgical procedures, the child may be required to undergo therapy to increase muscle strength and improve range of motion. A doctor may provide the parent with additional medical procedures and treatment options if the child continue to experience weakness in his or her hand, arm or shoulder. A second option is physical therapy. Through working range-of-motion therapy and other exercises with the baby, a parent or guardian can help keep the child’s muscles and joints flexible in order to prevent joint contracture. Under a physician’s direction, these exercises may be performed when a baby is three weeks of age.
Parents who believe the negligence of a doctor or a nurse caused their newborn to suffer a birth injury might consider pursuing compensation for damages resulting from the injury. An attorney who has experience in pursuing medical malpractice claims can discuss the remedies that may be available.
Source: Ortho info, “Erb’s Palsy (Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy)“, November 18, 2014
