United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My daughter Carmen Cousart which is (2) years old has brachial plexus injury to her right arm. She has had one surgery last year May 2004.

Now she has to have another.Which is called the Mod Quad. If your child or anyone you know that has had or ,are going to have this surgery please give me some helpful information about this surgery. Things like what to aspect at the hospital, the recovery time, any prompt usage after the surgery, what things are they to do while in the brace for one month?


Thank you,
Mona Cousart
A concern Mom

Hi MOna, Is your child having surgery with DR. Nath? I am asking this because you say it is the "mod quad" that she is having. If so, on Dr. Nath's website there is a great deal of information that will be helpful for you right now. http://www.drnathbrachialplexus.com.
Look in the surgery section, muscle surgery, mod quad. Many of your questions will be answered there. Also, if you post your email I can send you pictures of my daughter in her splint. My daughter did great when she had the mod quad. She was 18 months old and it gave her the ability to raise her arm over her head, bring her arm to the side. Now that she's a little older she can zipper a coat and she can also put her arm behind. We do not regret the surgery.

Mona,
You will probably get a better response for this question on the general board. This board is mostly birth-injured adults. So many of us have not had this surgery. However there are a lot of children that did on the general board, I bet their parents would be able to help.

Sorry I can dont answer any of your questions. I did not have this surgery. Good luck though!

Amy 18 ROBPI from MN

I'm going to have the mod quad surgery in three weeks... wow it's coming soon! Dr. Nath is doing it in Houston. The best thing I can suggest is to read about the surgery on his website: drnathbrachialplexus.com - it has a lot of helpful information.

Staci

I had the Mod Quad last January - great results. I flew to Houston by myself, stayed in the hospital 1 night and left the next day. I had some numbness at the surgery sight so did not experience any pain like some do after the surgery. In fact I didn't take the pain pills prescribed to me and was sewing within a week although still splinted. Since I am an adult I wore a pillow splint 24 hrs a day for 3 weeks and then at night for 9 weeks instead of being splinted in the "statue of Liberty" position.
Two days after surgery I could touch my head - a new trick and when I was measured at 12 days I had gone from 45* flexion (lift in front) to 69* with no intervention. I gained the most in the first 3 months and am now battling to get past 112* but am sure I will do it in time.
Some of the movements took longer than others to get a response as I built the neural pathways. One took 8 months before the arm responded to my request! But now the path is established and getting stronger with time. Feel free to email me if you like, I hear young children have much better results than us adults. Suzy

My son had mod quad at 14 1/2 months. he responded so well, that it was amazing. Shirts 2 times bigger than usual......post this message on the GENERAL board.....that is where MOST parents post. Dr. Nath is an awesome surgeon and an genuinely wonderful man.
GAyle mom of Brandon ROBPI Mod at 14 1/2 months 6 years ago ~!