title: Self-mutilation following brachial plexus injury sustained at birth.
abstract: Self-mutilation after deafferentation injuries has been reported only rarely in adult humans. This behavior has been found to be similar to that observed in animals that have been subjected to experimental deafferentation. We present a child with a brachial plexus injury sustained at birth who began to bite her analgesic digits. Self-mutilation behavior in humans is reviewed and its relevance to current deafferentation pain animal models is examined. This behavior in humans further validates the current animal model of deafferentation pain.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 USA.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossitch
authors.forename: Jerry W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Oakes
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ovelmen-Levitt
authors.forename: Blaine S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Nashold
mesh_terms: D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000523:psychology*