title: Therapeutic application of electrical stimulation and constraint induced movement therapy in perinatal brachial plexus injury: A case report.
abstract: Infants and children with perinatal brachial plexus injury (PBPI) have motion limitations in the shoulder, elbow, forearm and hand that are dependent on the level of injury and degree of recovery. The injury and subsequent recovery period occur during critical periods of central and spinal neural development placing infants and children at-risk for developmental disregard and disuse of the affected arm and hand. A case report outlines the therapy and surgical interventions provided in the first 2 years of life for a child with global PBPI and a positive Horner's sign. Electrical stimulation and constraint induced movement therapy provided sequentially were effective therapy interventions. Neurosurgery to repair the brachial plexus was performed at an optimal time period.(2) The Assisting Hand Assessment,(12) Modified Mallet(13) and Active Movement Scale(14) are effective outcome measures in PBPI and served as valuable guides for therapy intervention. Oxford Level of Evidence: 3b; Individual Case Control Study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd., #56, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. Electronic address: jberggren@chla.usc.edu.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berggren
authors.affiliation: Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Lucinda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries*; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn
keywords: Active movement scale; Assisting hand assessment; Constraint induced movement therapy; Developmental disregard; Electrical stimulation; Modified Mallet; Perinatal brachial plexus injury