Hello, My girlfriend recently suffered a brachial plexus injury and I want the absolute best care possible for her.
Who is the recoginized leader in the United States of surgical repair of the brachial plexus (specifically the suprascapular nerve innervating the supraspinatus and infraspinatus)?
I see most of you all talk of the Mayo Clinic. Have you all been to Dr. Spinner there?
My girlfriend has been to Dr. Nath in Houston TX and he has proposed microneurolysis of the suprascapular nerve to help return her shoulder movement. Any experience with Dr. Nath?
I have also found a great deal of literature published by Dr. Terzis in Norfolk, Virginia. Any experience with Dr. Terzis?
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Choosing a Doctor
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jennyb
- Posts: 1183
- Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2001 5:24 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: January 1980 Yamaha RD200 vs 16 wheeler truck, result, 1 totally paralysed right arm. I was 21, now 54. I had no surgery, I don't regret this. Decided to totally ignore limitations (easily done aged 21) adapted very quickly to one handed life, got married, had 3 kids, worked- the effect of the injury on my life (once the pain stopped being constant) was minimal and now, aged 54, I very rarely even think of it, unless I bash it or it gets cold, then I wish I'd had it amputated :) Except for a steering knob on my car, I have no adaptations to help with life, mainly because I honestly don't think of myself as disabled and the only thing I can't do is peel potatoes, which is definitely a good thing.
Re: Choosing a Doctor
Hi, sorry about your girlfriend's injury. It's good you are supporting her thru this.
The Mayo clinic is first choice for many people here as it's the only facility in the USA where their main interest is adult bpi (rather than obstetric bpi) and they work in a team, and with the complexity of the surgeries that are sometimes used in tbpi that is a good thing. Dr Kline in Louisiana would probably be the most experienced tbpi doctor in the USA, he is often described as more conservative than others. He has published many papers on all aspects of the injury. Dr Nath has many loyal fans among parents of injured kids but has started showing interest in trauma bpi only relatively recently. I can't comment on his results because he has never published a paper on any of his results with trauma adult patients.
If I had the choice I would go with the Mayo, they have the experience and the results are out there published, as well as the testimonials from people here who use Mayo and have gained good recovery with even very severe bpi injuries.
Good luck in your choice, the most important thing in initial diagnosis and treatment plan is to be seen by a bpi doctor a.s.a.p. If nerve grafts are needed time is of the essence.
Let us know how you go.
Jen NZ
The Mayo clinic is first choice for many people here as it's the only facility in the USA where their main interest is adult bpi (rather than obstetric bpi) and they work in a team, and with the complexity of the surgeries that are sometimes used in tbpi that is a good thing. Dr Kline in Louisiana would probably be the most experienced tbpi doctor in the USA, he is often described as more conservative than others. He has published many papers on all aspects of the injury. Dr Nath has many loyal fans among parents of injured kids but has started showing interest in trauma bpi only relatively recently. I can't comment on his results because he has never published a paper on any of his results with trauma adult patients.
If I had the choice I would go with the Mayo, they have the experience and the results are out there published, as well as the testimonials from people here who use Mayo and have gained good recovery with even very severe bpi injuries.
Good luck in your choice, the most important thing in initial diagnosis and treatment plan is to be seen by a bpi doctor a.s.a.p. If nerve grafts are needed time is of the essence.
Let us know how you go.
Jen NZ