United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

We are currently trying to get an MRI scheduled to see if they can confirm one way or the other if there is a shoulder dislocation. Is it possible to rule out a dislocation with just an x-ray? I hate to think of them having to sedate him for the MRI. I will let you all know how that goes.

Thanks again,
Kimberly

RUN do not walk away from any doctor who says you can detect dislocation/subluxation/joint malformation with an x-ray in an infant or young child!! Joshua had an x-ray in September of 2004 at 9 months old and his shoulder joint was completely invisible. It is all cartilage at this age, *especially* the BPI arm which calcifies at an even slower rate than normal. He had an MRI a month later and it showed significant subluxation and malformation of the joint.

You simply cannot see the young infant's very soft and mostly cartilage joint on an x-ray, CT-scan or other radiological method. On very young kids (less than 6 months I believe) it is possible to do an ultrasound of the joint (before it gets too big) but it doesn't give anywhere near as good a picture of the joint.

Sedating for the MRI is scary, partly because it is the first time... I remember vividly. I lost my best friend over Joshua's MRI that he had at 3 months old because of my stress over the MRI. It gets better. It's always scary, but just make sure it is done with pediatric aneshesiologists and the risk is *very* minimal.

Kate

Good sign at this age!!!