Prosthetic for a brachial plexus injury?

Prosthetic for a brachial plexus injury?

Ann Neulicht

2/17/2013

I am updating a Life Care Plan for a 5 year old child with BPP who lives in
the Chicago area.

 

She is s/p exploration of brachial plexus, right sural nerve graft harvest,
neurolysis of brachial plexus, intercostal neurotization from T3, T4 and T5
going to the lateral cord, microscopic dissection, electromyographic and
somatosensory evoked potential stimulation, and partial resection of
brachial plexus neuroma. No further surgery(s) are planned.

 

She has a flail left arm, but uses her upper arm as an assist (e.g., moved
it with her right arm to put it on the table to hold paper with her elbow
while she colored for me, could put her hand over a lever door knob, but not
grasp it tight enough to turn it). She did persist in getting her coat on
by herself.

IME Neurologist has suggested that perhaps the research done for war
veterans with traumatic brachial plexus injuries will ultimately help her.
Since her left arm will always be shorter, he recommends researching options
for a prosthetic for her (e.g., after she reaches skeletal maturity) that
will fit over her arm and allow her to use her (limited) finger dexterity to
operate it and increase function. Perhaps some type of myoelectric device?

I googled BPP and prosthetics and found some resources ..but all seem to
discuss amputation of a flail arm with subsequent prosthetic fitting..not
use of an existing arm inside a prosthetic. Has anyone created a
prosthetic like this?

I would appreciate any recommendations for resources/prosthetists that I can
contact to discuss

Thanks much!

Ann Neulicht

Telephone/FAX: (919) 870-6048