United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I am wondering if anyone can give me information on where I can find data or research on the effectiveness of brachial plexus surgery for teenagers who have suffered shoulder dystocia as a result of birth.

The teen in question is 13 and the insurance company is denying approval for surgery stating that at this age it will not do him any good. If I can show them some research or data proving that a teenager can have improvement as a result of the surgery the insurance will approve it.

I am very desperate for help. If you have some information please write to me at ldksondr@ihc.com

Thank you very much- Kim

Kim
There are many adults who are birth injured who have had surgery. Thirteen is not to old for surgery and I can't believe that the insurance company is trying to get away with saying that! You can check our resource page and it will name a number of hospitals doing surgery on bpi children. He still falls under pediatric care.

People who found bpi specialists have had surgery at all different ages. Some in their 40's, 30's and 20's. We also have a young lady who was only 16 when she began to post on the message boards and she has had surgery.

Hopefully they will chime in on this post soon.
Welcome to the message boards

Kath (adult/robpi)

Hi,
I had a tendon transfer (lat. dorssi) at age 14 to improve (or rather acquire) active external rotation.
I am 30 now.
Marieke (LOBPI)

I think I am the "young one" Kath was refering to. I have had 4 surgeries, the first when I was almost 7 the 2nd at age 10 the 3rd at age 11 and my last was at age 18. I had really great results from my last surgery. I think the results are better than any of my other surgeries because I know I have to do the therapy now and I am seeing a real therapist. After my first three surgeries I really did have any formal therapy (not a good idea if you want to see better results)

13 is definitely not too old for surgery! There is only one surgery I can think of that age 13 is too old and that is the nerve graft because that has a pretty short timeline.

I hope you are able to fight your insurance and win! Or maybe check out Shriners, thats where I have had all of my surgeries and they have done wonders for me! If it were not for shriners, I would have little to no use of my hand and arm.

Good Luck!
Amy 19 years old ROBPI from MN

Amy makes a good point. I think that a lot of the results that may be seen from surgery is the comittment to therapy afterward. I recently saw Dr. Nath who is very well known for surgery to improve function. He informed me that if I were to have surgery it can be a two year process with therapy to get maximum results.
Becky

Yes, when I went on for surgery I had 3x a week formal PT for 3 months BEFORE surgery to make my muscles as strong and functional as possible. Then after surgery (after the brace came off and al)I had PT 3x a week for about 6 months then 2x a week for another 6 months or so, then for the next yr 1x a week along with OT too. The good part about it in one way (about having sx as a teen) is that you understand the why of it, and can work hard at PT/OT... BUT some teens lose interest and DO NOT want to keep at it.
It takes willpower and a desire to want to work hard, but it is well worth it in my opinion!
Marieke