TITLE:
Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy of Newborns and Infants: Functional Outcomes after Rehabilitation by Their Own Parents
AUTHORS:
Ngo Yamben Marie-Ange, Manga Alexandre, Muluem Kennedy, Mvondo Obama Serge Arnaud, Nseme Etouckey Eric, Nana Chunteng Theophile, Tsiagadigui Tsiagadigui Jean-Gustave, Mosoh Franklin Muluh, Mbassi Awa, Ibrahima Farikou
KEYWORDS:
Obstetric Palsy, Brachial Plexus, Functional Rehabilitation, Macrosomia, Childbirth, Dystocia
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Orthopedics,
Vol.12 No.4,
April
29,
2022
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Obstetric palsy of the brachial plexus (OPBP) is a paralytic lesion
common to obstetric trauma, whose clinical presentation varies according to the
severity and extent of the root lesions at birth. Early and appropriate rehabilitation
is necessary in order to improve the functional prognosis of the injured limb.
Under special conditions, parents could carry out this physiotherapy themselves. Objective: The aim of
this work was to assess limb functional recovery in newborns and infants
with OPBP after rehabilitation by their parents. Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective study at the NCRDP in Yaoundé over a period of 18
months. We included all patients aged 0 to 2 years with OPBP, isolated or
associated with other lesions and followed at least two (02) years at the
NCRDP. Results: We recruited 69 cases. The hospital frequency of OPBP
was estimated at 1.02%. The age at first consultation was [0 - 28 d] in
50.8% of cases. The sex ratio was 0.68. The right side was reached in 54.4% of
cases. The Erb’s palsy predominated in 79.7% of cases. The risk factors for
OPBP were vaginal delivery, cephalic presentation, shoulder dystocia and macrosomia. Physiotherapy was performed as prescribed
in 94.9% of cases allowing excellent and good functional recovery in 76.81% of
cases. Conclusion: In the care of their children’s OPBP
rehabilitation by sensitized, actively involved and supervised parents would be
a good alternative to professional physiotherapy in all situations where the
latter would not be possible.