United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello again everyone. I guess I just jumped in with certain questions and never properly introduced myself. I have been watching this site over the weekend. I am so grateful that these sites exist.

My son is 3 years old. He has right sided OBPI. He has most wrist flexion, some pincer action with his thumb, elbow flexion and can lift his arm up to shoulder level. His bicep and tricep muscles are not innervated at all.

We have just been told his arm will not grow as he does. Now we wonder what other results or complications he might expect. I understand he may suffer injury to his unaffected arm later in life due to over compensation. Are there other things that may present that we are not aware of?

We would appreciate any information. I believe the doctor was negligent. However, living in Canada, I hear it is almost impossible to sue and win. The doctor let me go to 43 weeks gestation, induced delivery after he returned from vacation....he knew the baby would be 9 - 10 lbs. When the doctor told me that, I wanted a sonogram but the doctor declined. Jack weighed in at 10 lbs, 9 ozs! I managed to deliver his head, but then his shoulders were stuck and the cord was up high and compressed. Jack coded before he was fully delivered. After he was pulled out by his arm, hence the injury, and resuscitated, he was transported to NICU. All of this could have been prevented with a c-section. If only he had given me a sonogram when I asked to see how big the baby was... oh well, can't live in the 'if only's'.

So, we want to do all we can to help Jack achieve whatever he likes in life. Thanks to all of you for sharing your stories. Wendy

Wendy
Thanks for the introduction and welcome to the board.

I am an adult/obpi right arm. One arm is shorter.
Yes we do have complications later on in life but with some real research perhaps some of the secondary injuries can be avoided for the young children going for pt now. Perhaps better OT and training can prevent some of the injuries we have.

There was not information on bpi when I was growing up .
I thought until 2 years ago I was one of the few with this rare birth injury. Until a year ago I never saw anyone else with Erb's. Many of the adult on the obpi/adult board report the same thing ... we were unaware that so many have this injury...

It would be good for you to read the adult/obpi message board and if you have question post them and I am sure someone will answer your questions.

The adult/obpi message board is new so people are just finding their way there... and some of the adult/obpi right now have report they are sick...so not posting... but drop by read some of the posts and please ask any questions... It helps all of us to gather information on this injury...

Kath
I hope this post works I posted then nothing happened... so if this is double post... sorry