WHAT IS BPI ?
Brachial Plexus Injury | Erbs Palsy
Brachial Plexus Injury also known as Erbs Palsy, is an injury to the Brachial Plexus (BRAE - key - all PLEX - sis) resulting from too much traction being applied on the baby's head during a difficult birth. The highest risk factor is something called Shoulder Dystocia (explained below) . The Brachial Plexus is a group of nerves in the neck region; C5, C6, C7, C8 & T1. These nerves help you to control the movements of your arms, hands, and wrists. Brachial Plexus Injury | Erbs Palsy can affect how the arm moves around and can feel things. The severity of BPI | Erbs Palsy depends on how severe the nerves were affected.
Nerves receive messages from the brain to the muscles, signalling fine motor movement in the fingers and the range of motion in the entire arm. When any of the nerves serving those muscles are severely damaged, it may lead to weakness & paralysis; that is called BPI | Erbs Palsy.
Did you know?
Nerves routed outside the spinal cord (peripheral nerves), like the nerves of the Brachial Plexus, actually have some ability heal & repair themselves.
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SHOULDER DYSTOCIA & OBPI ANIMATION
*Graphic Warning*
Here is an animated video by "High Impact" of how Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Injuries occur during birth. BPI Strong Warriors does not own this video or have any association with High Impact. It is for educational purposes only.
"High Impact is the nation’s leading visual litigation and science studio, providing illustrations, animations, interactive presentations, and virtual reality exhibits for companies spanning biomedicine, engineering, and litigation. Their award-winning team of visual strategists, artists, doctors, and developers build and customize visual strategies for any project in which complex information needs to be simplified and communicated accurately and understandably."
BPI ERBS PALSY FACTS
1 - 3 IN EVERY 1000 BIRTHS
Obstetrical (Birth) Brachial Plexus Injuries occur in every 1-3 in every 1000 births in Canada & abroad. In Canada this is equivalent to Cerebral Palsy, Autism & Congenital Deafness.
2 TYPES OF BPI | ERBS PALSY
OBPI - Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Injury ^
TBPI - Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury: This type of BPI | Erbs Palsy is a result of the arm being forcefully pulled down and the head being pushed simultaneously to the opposite side. This can occur from things like a sports injury, wounds, motor vehicle accident (most common), and slip & falls.
BPI | ERBS PALSY SYMPTOM EXAMPLES
Pain & cramping
Weakened grip
Numbness | Loss of sensation - tingling, pins & needles
Weakness of the shoulder and elbow
Loss of functionality in the muscles of the arm & hand
The positioning of the arm and hand in comparison to the non-affected arm and hand i.e turned inward to the body, wrist drop and hanging limp.
4 TYPES OF NERVE INJURIES
STRETCH ( Neuropraxia ) - The most common & mildest form of nerve injury healing on its own in 4-6 weeks.
Full recovery is expected.TEAR ( Rupture ) - Torn nerve but not at the spinal cord & surgery is usually required.
SCAR ( Neuroma ) - A scar forming after a torn or stretched nerve injury. There's a chance that it will heal without surgery but if not, surgery may be required.
AVULSION - The nerve root is completely torn from the spinal cord and is the most severe type of nerve injury. Surgery would be required.
OBPI RISK FACTORS EXAMPLES
Shoulder Dystocia
High maternal birth weight
Excessive maternal weight gain
A woman birthing her 2nd child or more
Preexisting Gestational Diabetes
Use of instruments to assist such as a vacuum or forceps
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES EXAMPLES
Ask your medical practitioner which risk factors will increase the likelihood of shoulder dystocia (most women do not have any)
Ask all the questions you need to in advance and see how familiar your practitioner is with shoulder dystocia.
Ask about prevention of shoulder dystocia and how to minimize the risk of it happening
Avoid giving birth on your back- try on the side, squatting, hands & knees etc.
For more information on preventative measures, questions to ask before birth, check out UBPN's incredible resource pamphlet HERE
UBPN also has an extensive Brachial Plexus Injury Prevention Program (BPIPP). Be sure to check it out
@ www.ubpn.org/birth-injury/prevention .