title: Brachial plexus birth injury.
abstract: Brachial plexus birth injuries occur at a frequency of 1-2 per 1000 births. Many of these injuries spontaneously resolve. Should spontaneous recovery not occur within the first 4-6 months of life, the prognosis for attaining movement and function of the affected appendage is significantly impaired. The child demonstrates a lifelong disfiguring and functional handicap. With advances in technology, diagnosis and microsurgical techniques, surgical exploration of the brachial plexus has been revived. A multidisciplinary approach has provided dynamic results. At present only one institution in the United States utilizes this innovative protocol. This article addresses the collaborative perioperative nursing implications for a child with brachial plexus birth injury.
authors.affiliation: Texas Children's Hospital, Houston 77030.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brucker
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shenaq
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parke
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Solis
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheek
mesh_terms: D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000601:surgery*; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000451:nursing*