United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My son is 7 and it seems that for a while his arm length was pretty much keeping up with his other arm in length as he grew but now his hand on his injured arm is so much narrower and smaller. Does anyone know why and if it will ever balance out as he grows older?

Julie
I am robpi and my arm is shorter and my hand is smaller. I think its quiet common for our arms to be shorter and hands smaller.

Kath

with most BPIs there is some muscle and tendone atrophy; The reason for the size and girth (sp?) difference. You should probably have some tests done (EMG/MRI) to make sure that all is okay and continue with therapy and seek a specialist opinion on what exactly you could do for therapy...maybe e-stim, specific hand excersises, etc.

Good luck to you and your son!

Peggy

My son is five years old and his injured arm is a little shorter. A few weeks ago I saw a movie by Martin Sheen. He apparently had a mild injury. For one thing, he can easily put both arms behind his back and lock them together. Most of the BPI kids cannot put the injured arm behind back. And Martin Sheen's injured arm is reportedly 3 inches shorter. It is devastating. The lack of movement/use on the injured arm is the culpit, I assume.

I guess what we can do is to help our kids to exercise more and use more of their injured arm.

Jenny

I think my daughter's arm length difference has balanced out as she has gotten older. I think that exercising it has made a big difference. When I look back on pictures of her at 7, her arm is bent and appears very much shorter. Now at 12, after years of swimming and sports, it appears that the difference is not as noticeable as it used to be - although her arms are still not the same length. I do believe that swimming has helped her very much.

The idea that my daughter's injured arm might not grow at the same rate as her other arm was very difficult for me to accept. Now that she is 12, there is an obvious difference of probably about 2-3 inches - but it is not nearly as awful as it sounds like it would be. She has a moderate injury. Her hands are the same size but her injured arm is alittle skinnier and shorter - but ... oh well... she is here and alive. I realize that it must seem like a weird attitude, but after years of wanting the best for your child - arm length differences seem pretty minor. There are times when she can straighten her arm almost all of the way and keep her fingers down straight and her arms look about the same length, but when she is 'herself' the difference is obvious and that choice is hers on if she wants to let the difference show or not. I have never altered any of her clothes, but I have helped her adjust sleeves if she wants me to - that is up to her. I think my daughter was about 5 when I first was told that there was a difference in her arm lengths and I remember how it crushed me at that time - I wish I could have had a preview of who she is now at 12 and know that she would be so strong and wouldn't really care as much as I did. I think that sometimes I worry about things that she never even thinks about...
Christy

My son is 13. His right arm is smaller than his left, but from what I read, this may be due to the bent position it has. By the way, hello, I'am new to this site, and JUST have began our journey with information we NEVER had until now.

Dr. Nath told me that Brittany is at a critical growing time right now, she is going to turn 7 next week, and that do to muscle imbalance and bone things, her arm is not going to grow with the other arm. It just can't. But, I know it is another surgery or two, but, if it is ever an issue, there are procedures to lengthen bones. He told us that Brittany will probably have to have it done to look anywhere near the same just because of the severity of her injury. That makes us feel better knowing that there is a remedy for this and not something that she has to live with.
Kimberly

Thanks so much everyone. I just wanted to make sure my son is no different than all the other BPI patients. He has the best attitude and at 7 has never asked us why he had this happen or why his sister didn't have it happen to her and when kids ask what happen he says" I had surgery on my lefty!" Gotta love those strong kids out there. They adapt so well!