United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi all. My daughter is 13 now and suffers left arm global brachial plexius. I was wondering if anyone on here has any information on stem cell research of this injury? I am new to this and was wondering what was available to us. Does anybody know of a brachial plexus dr. who supports stem cell? Thanks for any help.

Jana

Sorry to say, but you won't find stem cell treatments in North America. They do them in China for a lot of $$$$. AND it's risky as they are not as likely to follow the same health protocols.

Marieke 32, LOBPI

hi jana, sorry to hear about your daughters condition
my son is 29 and also suffers from bpn we also were hoping to seek stem cell treatment for him im not to sure if dr nath in texas does stem cell treatment but he is a specialist we are waiting on a date to go over for either nerve tranfare or nerve grafting have you concidered any of them options.

joy

Yes, Summer has had to surgeies in Houston and one hand surgery at the shriners in Philly. I was just wondering if any doctor was keeping up with what was availabe with stem cell research and if they recommended looking into with brachial plexus.

Hi Jana, my name is Jennifer you can contact me if you want and i can give you some info on stem cells. My son who is 2 years old, he also has Global Brachial Plexus and we are thinking about doing something with stem cells. My e-mail is yanks002@hotmail.com and cel # 845-656-0306

hi jordan could you tell me what global breakial plexus
is as i have not heard of it before

joy

Hi Joy and all:

From http://ddc.ohio.gov/Pub/LIFESPANCND.htm

Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy: With an incidence rate of 0.4 to 2.5 per 1,000 live births, Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy is caused by a birth injury to the brachial plexus, the nerve network that controls movement and sensation of the arm. The main result of this injury is weak or paralyzed muscles in the shoulder, arm, and hand.
There are three kinds:
o Upper Brachial Plexus (Erb’s palsy): The upper part of the nerve plexus is damaged. Along with total brachial plexus palsy, this is the most common form of the disorder. These infants cannot move the shoulder and keep their arms extended and turned inward, giving the appearance of the “waiter's tip hand.”
o Total or Global Brachial Plexus Palsy: The entire brachial plexus is affected. Infants with total brachial plexus injury have no movement of the arm, wrist, or hand; the arm is limp. This type of injury is more often associated with nerve roots being detached from the spinal cord, which is more difficult to treat.
o Lower Brachial Plexus Palsy: Isolated lower plexus injury is exceedingly rare. Typically the lower brachial plexus is involved as part of a more extensive injury, such as total brachial plexus injury.
o Bilateral Injuries: The brachial plexus can be injured on both sides of the body, although such cases are rare. Bilateral injuries can be mistaken for other problems, such as spinal cord injury.
http://ddc.ohio.gov/Pub/LIFESPANCND.htm

Clinical Trials for Brachial Plexus Injuries using adult stem cells were supposed to start a couple of years ago in London with Professor Geoffrey Raisman & Dr. Thomas Carlstedt at the University College of London, but they keep getting postponed. I assume it is due to funding, but am not sure.

Read any of these links to get an idea of his work...
http://ubpn.org/messageboard/thread ... 526#154526

http://ubpn.org/messageboard/thread ... 158#195158

http://ubpn.org/messageboard/thread ... 294#151294

http://ubpn.org/messageboard/thread ... 040#154040