Therapeutic application of electrical stimulation and constraint induced movement therapy in perinatal brachial plexus injury: A case report

Infants and children with perinatal brachial plexus injury (PBPI) have motion limitations in the shoulder, elbow, forearm and hand that are dependent on the level of injury and degree of recovery. The injury and subsequent recovery period occur during critical periods of central and spinal neural development placing infants and children at-risk for developmental disregard and disuse of the affected arm and hand. A case report outlines the therapy and surgical interventions provided in the first 2 years of life for a child with global PBPI and a positive Horner's sign. Electrical stimulation and constraint induced movement therapy provided sequentially were effective therapy interventions. Neurosurgery to repair the brachial plexus was performed at an optimal time period.2 The Assisting Hand Assessment,12 Modified Mallet13 and Active Movement Scale14 are effective outcome measures in PBPI and served as valuable guides for therapy intervention.Oxford Level of Evidence: 3b; Individual Case Control Study.