United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi all, new here and was hoping I can get alittle help while waiting for all the appts.
At my sons 6th month check up I mentioned to his Dr. that he was not moving his thumbs much. They are tucked into his hands. So he referred us to an ot and neurologist. The Dr. didn't say what he thought and I didn't ask (should have). So my husband starts looking on the internet and only thing he could find was Erb's Palsy. So was just wondering if it is possible for just his thumbs and on both hand be affected? Any help is appreciated. Fist appt. is Tues. 20th with a pt, was changed from ot to that.

Thank You,
Annette

T

Hi Annette

Does he move his other fingers and wrist? Does his arms have normal movement? I have never heard of the thumbs only being affected, but maybe someone else has? Did he have a traumatic birth, or was he large baby?

Holly

He does move every thing else. He also can move his left thumb some and every now and then he moves his right. He cant pick up things in the normal way cause they are always tucked in. They didnt have to use anything to get him out he came so fast after my water broke.
Everything seemed to be fine after birth. I was swabbling him until about 5 months cause his arms were always going.
birth weight was 8 10
Thanks for the reply,

annette


Message was edited by: annette4

Annette,

This does not sound like a brachial plexus injury, but something else. A brachial plexus injury severe enough to persist until this age would have had many other symptoms and a recognizeable pattern of paralysis and recovery. I have heard of congenitally dislocated thumbs, for instance. Here is a link on a wide variety of limb deformities:

http://www.emedicine.com/plastic/topic298.htm

Under the section "Flexion deformities" :

"Infants normally hold their thumbs in flexion until aged 3 months, possibly due to the dominance of the flexor innervation prior to that time. Lack of extension (ie, clasped thumb posture) at this time may be due to (1) trigger thumb, (2) congenital absence of the thumb extensors, (3) camptodactyly, or (4) arthrogryposis. Flexion deformities secondary to extensor hypoplasia may be isolated to one finger or involve all fingers. The thumb is involved most commonly, and when the thumb is involved, the I and middle (M) fingers also may be involved. MP extension is lacking, while the interpharyngeal (IP) joints can be extended by the intrinsics. "

In any case, I would ask your primary care physician for a referral. This does not sound like something that a general practitioner is likely to know much about, and if there is a problem it is going to affect your child's grasp and I think it would need to be addressed sooner rather than later!

Good luck... and if you get a chance in the future, please let us know what you find out!

Kate

Sorry, I didn't see that you had a referral to an OT and a neurologist. That's great! If neither of them can really assure you of what is going on, I would make sure to get a referral to an Orthopedic Surgeon who is a hand specialist.

Kate

Kate,
Thanks for that reply I'am going to go check out that site right now.

thanks,
annette

I hope that its nothing and your child just hasnt discovered thumbs yet. My nephew who is 6 months old on Wednesday just figured out how to use his. He always had them tucked in. Scared the crap out of me that something might be wrong, I would stretch them every time I was home. But then I was home on spring break last week and he was using them fine. I hope that your situation will be the same!
Good luck!
Amy 20 ROBPI from MN

Thanks Amy

My husband and I both work his thumbs and try to get him to use them. We have an appt. with pt tomorrow cant wait to see what they say. Hopefully it is nothing.
Thanks again,
Annette

P.S.
Thanks to all that replied to my post