Current strategies of the brachial plexus palsy management

TOKARZEWSKA, Agata, KORGA, Mateusz, KOWALCZYK, Adrian, MAŁYSKA, Justyna, TYBULCZUK, Balbina, SIKORA, Katarzyna & BAJ, Jacek. Current strategies of the brachial plexus palsy management. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2023;26(1):17-26. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2023.26.01.002

https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/43449

https://zenodo.org/record/7896253

The journal has had 40 points in Ministry of Education and Science of Poland parametric evaluation. Annex to the announcement of the Minister of Education and Science of December 21, 2021. No. 32343.

Has a Journal's Unique Identifier: 201159. Scientific disciplines assigned: Physical Culture Sciences (Field of Medical sciences and health sciences); Health Sciences (Field of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences).

Punkty Ministerialne z 2019 - aktualny rok 40 punktów. Załącznik do komunikatu Ministra Edukacji i Nauki z dnia 21 grudnia 2021 r. Lp. 32343. Posiada Unikatowy Identyfikator Czasopisma: 201159.

Przypisane dyscypliny naukowe: Nauki o kulturze fizycznej (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu); Nauki o zdrowiu (Dziedzina nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu).

© The Authors 2023;

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Received: 07.04.2023. Revised: 20.04.2023. Accepted: 04.05.2023. Published: 04.05.2023.

Current strategies of the brachial plexus palsy management. 

Agata Tokarzewska¹, Mateusz Korga¹, Adrian Kowalczyk¹, Justyna Małyska¹, Balbina Tybulczuk¹, Katarzyna Sikora¹, Jacek Baj²

¹ Student Scientific Association at Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland

² Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland

Corresponding author: Agata Tokarzewska, agata_tokarzewska@op.pl

ORCID ID:

Agata Tokarzewska https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9539-1697

Mateusz Korga https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3317-5726

Adrian Kowalczyk https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3832-7941

Justyna Małyska https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6693-491X

Balbina Tybulczuk https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2854-4697

Katarzyna Sikora https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6955-3549

Jacek Baj https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1372-8987

Abstract

The importance of brachial plexus palsy treatment is associated with its significant severity, along with Brachial plexus palsies can be treated by means of many different surgical and non-surgical methods which allow regeneration of full efficiency of the affected limb. The choice of method depends on such factors as type and region of injury, patient’s age or clinical presentation of the injury. The purpose of this review is to present current strategies of treating brachial plexus palsies, depending on therapeutic needs of the particular patient.

This is a review study based upon selective literature overview, with emphasis on works published within past 13 years. 6 separate methods of brachial plexus palsy were assessed, without distinction of the reason of palsy occurring. Some of the invasive methods include operative treatment performed directly on occupied nervous tissue, such as microneural plexus reconstruction and nerve transfers (lower subscapular nerve transfer and contralateral C7 nerve transfer) whilst the others revolve around restoration of function of affected neighboring structures by themselves, e.g. shoulder tendon transfers. Rehabilitation and botulinum toxin-based treatment are non-operative methods revolving around enhancement of the function of the affected upper limb. Main measure of effectiveness of the treatment is assessment of the range of motion of the affected limb (ROM).

There is still not enough information available regarding long-term efficiency of microneural plexus reconstruction and botulinum toxin-based treatment. They require further investigation while other methods are used commonly.

Keywords: Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy; Brachial Plexus Neuropathies; Brachial Plexus; Treatment; Rehabilitation