United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi, Jacob is 5 months now and had his EMG done last week by a pediatric neuro, the results suggested he has no bicep and very little if any tricep and deltoid. Can they be wrong? I'm so sure it is. I was suprised by the results because Jacob uses his arm quite well, he can reach his hand to his mouth in a sitting position and can stretch it forwards about 90 degrees, he's unable to lift above his head, reach out to the side, or supinate, but I think that might be something that comes with time, everything else has. They have told me he has anti gravity elbow flex, I dont really understand what this is? I would love it if somebody could explain it to me. I realise he compensates a lot, but when we were doing his morning exercises I'm quite sure he flexed his elbow!! I was holding his arm at the elbow getting ready to do a stretch and he bent it upwards. I dont see how he could be using gravity in order to do it? I thought I knew what the anti gravity movement was, but now I'm so unsure, maybe I'm just clutching at straws. I seem to be unable to accept that he needs surgery, I've just always felt like he will recover on his own. I go for a 3rd opinion tomorrow, and back to the orthopod who has seen him from birth on friday.

forever hopeful of a spontaneous recovery

Siobhan

I think EMGs can be unreliable. We sought out the opinion of three different doctors for Joshua's primary surgery decision, and not one of them used EMGs as decision making tools. Joshua got his hand to his mouth at 4.5 months old - just in time to avoid primary surgery. He had one shoulder surgery, and still has trouble with abduction above 100 degrees. But unless he is trying to reach up over his head, you really can't tell he has an injury.

Kate

my EMG was wrong...now my surgery has been cancelled. it showed a pinched ulnar nerve at the elbow and no BPI!!! i knew better than that. i am happy i got to go to another doctor (Susan Mckinnon in St Louis MO) she knows what she is doing. i was going to a doctor that knows very little about BPIs i am getting a different EMG from dr mckinnon. an "inch by inch" EMG. dont know if this is a special type of EMG or what, but she was not happy with the one i had. i almost had a surgery for the wrong thing. i do have an ulnar pinch, but my biggest problem is a lower prachial plexus injury. i will have a surgery in a few months after my pain is under control and dr mckinnon knows exactly what the problem is.

They surely can be wrong, saw the orthopod today, he said he has a very strong tricep and cant understand how the EMG results could be so far off!!