Effect of exercise doses on functional recovery in neonatal brachial plexus palsy: A randomized controlled study

Rehabilitation protocols in neonates undergoing primary nerve surgery for upper brachial plexus palsy: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Surgical management is recommended in patients with severe neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) within the first 6 months of age to regain best possible function. Rehabilitation post-surgery remains relatively unexplored. This is a scoping review that explores, which rehabilitation modalities exist and how they vary for different microsurgical approaches in NBPP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic search was conducted to include articles about upper trunk obstetric brachial plexus nerve microsurgery in pediatric patients that made mention of rehabilitation protocols. The aims of rehabilitation modalities varied and were grouped: "passive" movement to prevent joint contracture or stiffness, "active" or task-oriented movement to improve motor function, or "providing initial motor recovery". Surgical approach was described as either exploration of the brachial plexus (EBP) or nerve transfer without root exploration (NTwoRE). Technique was categorized into transfers and non-transfers.

RESULTS

Thirty-six full-text articles were included. Initiation of rehabilitation was 22.26 days post-surgery. Twenty-eight studies were EBP, and six were NTwoRE. Of studies classifiable by aims, nine were "passive", nine were "active", and five were "providing initial motor recovery". Only 27.7% of EBP studies mentioned active therapy, while 75.0% of NTwoRE studies mentioned active therapy. The average age of patients in the EBP procedure category was 7.70 months, and NTwoRE was 17.76 months. Within transfers, the spinal accessory to suprascapular group was more likely to describe an active shoulder exercise therapy, whereas contralateral C7 group was more likely to describe "initial motor recovery", especially through the use of electrostimulation. All articles on electrostimulation recommended 15-20-minute daily treatment.

CONCLUSION

Information on rehabilitation is limited post-nerve surgery in NBPP. However, when mentioned, the aims of these therapies vary with respect to surgical approach and technique. The type of therapy to employ may be a multifaceted decision, involving factors such as patient age, initial deformity, and goals of the care team.

The Effect of the Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy on the Upper Extremity Functions of Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy Patients

Objectives

Functional limitation of the upper extremity (UE) in obstetrical brachial plexus paralysis (OBPP) restricts a child's participation in daily living and social activities. In treatment, the participation of UE in rehabilitation is important. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a promising rehabilitation approach that is used to improve the UE functions of patients with neurological dysfunctions.

Methods

This single-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial includes 30 pediatric patients diagnosed with chronic OBPP aged between 2 and 12 years. The patients were divided into two groups as a modified CIMT group and a control group. Patients in both groups underwent classical rehabilitation treatment 4 times a week for 8 weeks. Range of motion (ROM), stretching, strengthening, and proprioceptive exercises were given to both control and CIMT group. The patients in the CIMT group had to wear constraining arm slings 2 h per day and 4 days a week for 8 weeks. The patients were evaluated both before and after treatment using the Mallet classification system and the Melbourne unilateral upper limb assessment-2 (The MA2) scale.

Results

In both groups, the Mallet and MA2 scores significantly increased after the treatment process. However, the percentage of improvement was higher for the CIMT group.

Conclusion

Modified CIMT improves the joint ROM and the functional use of the extremity among OBPP-diagnosed children. This improvement is greater in the CIMT group compared to the improvement in the control group. Implementation of CIMT in a routine rehabilitation process may be helpful.