United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I would really appreciate some feed back on these vids, the results seem fairly fast. Some of the results go against recovery length and time needed for nerves to grow back, this video really confuses me. In addition there seem to be a lot of reports, news clips, etc. that seem to give credit to this DR. Dont forget to click DSL/CABLE. Thanks my peeps!

http://www.advancedreconstruction.com/w ... gh&video=3

I'VE SEEN DR. ELKWOODS VIDEOS BEFORE AND HE SEEMS TO TO BE ONE OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.THERE'S ONE VIDEO WHERE HE OPERATED ON A WOMAN WITH A BRACHIAL INJURY AND SHE MADE A COMPLETE RECOVERY,NOT 95% BUT COMPLETE 100% BACK TO NORMAL RECOVERY.AS WE ALL KNOW THAT'S EXTREMELY RARE WITH THESE INJURIES BUT I GUESS AT THE VERY LEAST IT'S INSPIRATION FOR THE FUTURE.

Just to clarify, so there is no false hope:

Those videos can be very misleading.

While someone can experience full arm paralysis, they can also have complete return of function as well, as long as there are no avulsions (nerves being torn from the spinal cord). Stretched and crushed nerves MAY return on their own. "MAY", being the operative word. Just because Dr Elkwood's patient says they have full paralysis, that doesn't indicate the level of actual nerve damage (crushed, stretched, avulsed, etc).

There are no surgeries available to date that will bring back the functional return which that woman showed if she had a FULL BRACHIAL PLEXUS AVULSION (that being C5, C6, C7, C8, & T1 nerves torn out from the spine at the nerve roots). Also the other patient (male motorcycle injury FOX5 news clip) that Elkwood had listed in 2 videos that did suffer a full Brachial Plexus avulsion (all 5 nerves torn from the spine) only commented on SOME sensation changes in his arm, never did it show ANY movement.

I'm in no way saying that Dr Elkwood is not a competent neurosurgeon, I'm just suggesting to consider all the factors when trying to analyze the medical value of any of these videos.

You need ALL the FACTS when trying to find out somethings value, especially when it's your arm at stake.

Best of luck,
Christopher

PS I didn't watch all of the videos, just the ones that mentioned "nerve transplant" & "plexus". If there was a new procedure out there that would give back full functional return, I'd most likely have read about it, and I'd have posted it here first thing. I don't mean to come across as negative or rain on anyone's parade, it's just important not to spread false hope or suggest surgeries are available that aren't yet. A lot of people depend on these boards for information & support they can't find elsewhere, so it's important that the right stuff gets out there.

The big thing this group is doing is the "nerve transplant" from another patient. Essentially it's "spare wiring" (in terms of electrical work). If both of the injured patients existing Sural nerves (from the back of the calf muscle) have been used already (for spare wiring/nerve grafting), then this is where a "nerve transplant" can be very useful.

COULDN'T AGREE MORE,WHAT CHRISTOPHER SAID IS RIGHT ON POINT.