United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I am home and they gave me good news.I have avulsion on c5678 and t1, but they scheduled surgery for march 23 07 and say they can get me 45degrees with my shoulder, and elbow to bend but wont be able to extend iy fully and 60% of my grasp back.I will keep you all informed on how it go's. if anyone wants to talk my phone# is 989-666-8777. I live in michigan.

That is great, My son just had his surgery 4 weeks ago, he is three. He has avulsions from C3 to T1, only there must be a thread left as he has involuntary movement in three fingers. Doctor Shin said that he has a 70% chance each surgical area. They grafted from the left to the right, a C7 contralateral to the deltoid muscle and then grafted a part of the shoulder shrugging nerve on the right side down to the tricep muscle to get elbow bending back. They don't really know about his hand. But we have noticed he does try to squeeze with his hand. so maybe something will come back even if it is only a little bit. TK

hi i live in ypsilanti mi by ann arbor.........i would like to speak to you whens the best time to call???

hi you can call me anytime after 9am and before 11pm. this is my cell #989-666-8777 I dont have any problems talking about it if you leave a message tell me that its about bpi and i will return your call

We are from Michigan too. We live in Marquette. My son had a4 wheeler accident in May 2003. He was seen in Ann Arbor by Dr. McGillicuddy 6 months after his accident. he had C3,4,5,6,7,8 avulsions. He did not encourage surgery. Now it has been almost 4 years and he has seen Dr. Elkwood in NJ in January. we are now in the process of sending his medical records to mayos. The only movement he has is his fingers and he can shrug his shoulders. I guess nerve transplants & grafts are now too late, but Dr. Elkwood says he can do a couple of tendon transfers to get some abduction of his shoulder & get him out of a sling. He also may be able to get some elbow movement with a tendon transfer. Hes mentioned fusing the wrist also. We're hoping to go to Mayo to get a 2nd opinion. His biggest problem is the pain. Good luck in your up coming surgery!

SMALL WORLD wouldn't want to paint it!! Hope Dr. Spinner can offer your son some options. I was not avulsed and got to them within the 6month window so I am now patiently waiting for the regrowth/repair of the nerve grafts & transfers Mayo Drs did for me in January. Extreemly slow process. I hope you have good news.

Kaz where in upper michigan are you from?

Marquette