United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi everyone,

I have a question for all of you, Have any of your kids had the primary surgery as infants and only had that one surgery? I keep hearing about all these new surgeries that are done later in life....I was just curious if anyone has had success with only the primary surgery.
Thanks,
Dawn
mom to Cassidy 12 months
ROBPI

Dawn,

I personally have never heard of a child only needing primary surgery. Reason being is that it takes the nerve so long to grow and innervate all of the muscles...and some muscles are innervated before others, contractures, internal rotation, and bony deformities become apparent over time. This is why children need secondary surgeries. Even most children who were not severe enough to need a primary surgery will need secondary surgeries due to the nerve regeneration issue described above.

Anything is possible, but from my understanding, it is very unlikely.

Hope that helps.


Take care,
Lauren

My daughter had only a nerve graft done at 5 1/2 months.
She had a stretch injury to C5 & C6. Her PT released her from needing PT at 1 1/2 years old. At around the same time we no longer had to go back for follow ups with her surgeons. She is now 5 1/2 years old and has complete use of her injured arm.
So, yes it is possible to only need nerve graft (primary).
Her surgeons were amazed at her recovery!

Leslie

Not to sound daft, but if she had a stretch injury, what did they graft? Did she have tears or ruptures to other nerves or was the stretch the only diagnosis?

Thanks

-rich

Thank you Lauren for the info, it's kind of what I was afraid of....my doctor has never mentioned secondary surgery, I kind of just got wondering as I read all these posts about other procedures, oh well, day by day I guess.
Dawn

A little baby had surgery the day after Maia had her primary surgery. They found 3 avulsions, but there were pedicles there (little stumps) that they could attach a graft to. This amazing little girl did not need any of the secondary surgeries you read about she only needed a very quick decompression of the nerve going to her biceps and that was it. She's going to be 9 and is doing great!

We stayed friends with this family throughout the years and to be completely honest about this (and we've spoken about this many times), it was truly hard to understand why Maia with just partial ruptures needed so much work when this child with avulsions went on her merry way. She is absolutely blessed that she recovered so well and I'm just so happy that she didn't have to go through what Maia did. Surgery is a very tough road for everyone.

Good 'Mornin MOms,
Sometimes we forget that these Birth Injuries are all different to each Individual...
Have a grand Day,today ALL.

HUGS Heal!,
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI/68 & Proud of it

Exactly right Carolyn! They are all different.
Rich to answer your question - after surgery, the surgeons said they found a stretch to C5 & C6. They removed the damaged part of the nerves and grafted nerves from the back of both legs.