United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello,
I have just returned from seeing Dr.Kozin in Philadelphia. (thanks again Francine for ALL your help!)
He felt Justin might have this injury (Anoxic)... Has anyone heard of this before when dealing with the bracial plexus nerves?
Same symptoms and treatment just when Justin was born he did not hold his arm down with the hand out (waiters tip) he held it fist closed up next to his body, which I believe was the difference. He said it can be confused easily by others.
I have been seen by two other doctors in my area who diagnosed it has a Brachial Plexus Injury.
I was just wondering if anyone has ever run accross this term?
Thanks!
Sandra
Justin's mommy

Hi Sandra - it was nice to meet you and get time with your little sweetiepie. I hope you get some answers soon. Glad you got home safely.
-francine

When I looked up that word here is what I found...

Anoxic injury refers to injury to the brain as a result of decreased oxygen supply. This can happen by a number of mechanisms during pregnancy and/or delivery.

The way I interpret this is that when the shoulder dystocia occurs and the delivery is halted there may be a decreased supply of oxygen to the brain. I can imagine that the therapy would be the same, but certainly surgical intervention would not help.

Just a suggestion, but maybe an EMG or MRI would show if there are torn or stretched nerves.

Not sure what he means. When we asked about Katie's arm being so floppy we were told she was a floppy baby from the anoxia (lack of oxygen) which we later found out was really the brachial plexus injury. Anoxia is a "state" not an injury and can cause brain damage as well as damage to the other parts of the body. This is most likely where the developmental/ cognitive delays come from with the kids of ours that have them.

That is the term "anoxia"... The way he explained it BPI and this are two different injuries?
One being affecting the "branch" and the Anoxic affecting the "root".... So I guess he was telling me what I see is what we get??????
Would SD still have been caused. He has a slumpy shoulder?

Also he has met all of his "milestones" crawling, walking, some words.. He turned one on 11/05/02 ... If this had been the case wouldn't he be slightly delayed? Or will this show up later?

I would get a second opinion and even a third...unfortunately I've experienced many doctors who think they know and it turns out that they really don't know.
T.

I know every case is different but it took 20 Minutes to revive Michaela after her birth and there are no mental side effects that we know of yet.The delivering doctor said at the time that he checked her cord blood and there was plenty of oxygen in it, but that doesn't change the fact that after the cord was cut that everything started shutting down. Our attorney has shown me articles where some mental and psychological problems don't appear till preteen or puberty years in children with severe injuries. What's really hard is waiting and watching. For us, so far so good.

Sounds like "two" seperate issues to me. Almost 3 years after the fact we learned yesterday of some serious delays besides the obvious physical when we got Patell (sp?) results. Our pediatrician had told us first to expect them and when the delays didn't show up right away he said they could also manifest themselves later, around school age. Guess he is right. I think I would ask for a clarification on the issues.