Short-term outcome of physiotherpy and surgical treatment of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy

Background: Birth injury to the brachial plexus is referred to as obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of OBPP. Methods: This study was conducted in the Orthopaedic and Neonatology Department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mu...

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Main Authors: Krishna Priya Das, Rumpa Mani Chowdhury, Sk. Murad Ahmed, Md. Moniruzaman, Mohammod Shahidullah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University 2025-05-01
Series:Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal
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Online Access:https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/BSMMUJ/article/view/75605
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author Krishna Priya Das
Rumpa Mani Chowdhury
Sk. Murad Ahmed
Md. Moniruzaman
Mohammod Shahidullah
author_facet Krishna Priya Das
Rumpa Mani Chowdhury
Sk. Murad Ahmed
Md. Moniruzaman
Mohammod Shahidullah
author_sort Krishna Priya Das
collection DOAJ
description Background: Birth injury to the brachial plexus is referred to as obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of OBPP. Methods: This study was conducted in the Orthopaedic and Neonatology Department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Infants with OBPP who presented within six months were included and initially treated with physiotherapy for up to six months. There were incomplete (neuropraxia and axonotmesis) and complete (neurotmesis) injuries. If biceps power was recovered of birth (≥M3), therapy was continued for up to 18 months. If there was no significant improvement (≤M2), surgery was performed. The final outcome was assessed after 18 months using the Mallet score, the Raimondi score, and the Medical Research Council muscle grading scale. Results: Out of 200 OBPP cases, 90% were enrolled through the outpatient department. One-fourth were identified during the neonatal period. The majority (96%) were born via vaginal delivery, with shoulder dystocia occurring in 68% of cases. Instrumental deliveries resulted in more severe injuries. Females and right-sided involvement were predominant. The overall satisfactory result with physiotherapy was observed in 65%, cases, whereas after surgery, it improved to 80%. However, when considering the upper trunk only, it approached 85% with physiotherapy and 98% after surgery (Mallet score >15, Medical Research Council   grade ≥ 4, Raimondi score ≥2). For lower trunk and panplexus cases, satisfactory outcomes following physiotherapy and surgery were 41%. Conclusion: Treatment initiated within six months have ensured nearly full recovery of most upper trunk and incomplete OBPP cases, but outcomes of severely affected lower trunk and panpalsy cases was poor.
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publisher Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University
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spelling doaj-art-007d6c9a7a9b493b8b6b069da99db6df2025-08-20T03:52:48ZengBangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical UniversityBangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal2074-29082224-77502025-05-01182Short-term outcome of physiotherpy and surgical treatment of obstetrical brachial plexus palsyKrishna Priya Das0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2284-6635Rumpa Mani Chowdhury1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7658-3607Sk. Murad Ahmed2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2998-5013Md. Moniruzaman3Mohammod Shahidullah4Department of Orthopaedics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (currently Bangladesh Medical University), Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Neonatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (currently Bangladesh Medical University), Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Orthopaedics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (currently Bangladesh Medical University), Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Orthopaedics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (currently Bangladesh Medical University), Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Neonatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (currently Bangladesh Medical University), Dhaka, Bangladesh Background: Birth injury to the brachial plexus is referred to as obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of OBPP. Methods: This study was conducted in the Orthopaedic and Neonatology Department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Infants with OBPP who presented within six months were included and initially treated with physiotherapy for up to six months. There were incomplete (neuropraxia and axonotmesis) and complete (neurotmesis) injuries. If biceps power was recovered of birth (≥M3), therapy was continued for up to 18 months. If there was no significant improvement (≤M2), surgery was performed. The final outcome was assessed after 18 months using the Mallet score, the Raimondi score, and the Medical Research Council muscle grading scale. Results: Out of 200 OBPP cases, 90% were enrolled through the outpatient department. One-fourth were identified during the neonatal period. The majority (96%) were born via vaginal delivery, with shoulder dystocia occurring in 68% of cases. Instrumental deliveries resulted in more severe injuries. Females and right-sided involvement were predominant. The overall satisfactory result with physiotherapy was observed in 65%, cases, whereas after surgery, it improved to 80%. However, when considering the upper trunk only, it approached 85% with physiotherapy and 98% after surgery (Mallet score >15, Medical Research Council   grade ≥ 4, Raimondi score ≥2). For lower trunk and panplexus cases, satisfactory outcomes following physiotherapy and surgery were 41%. Conclusion: Treatment initiated within six months have ensured nearly full recovery of most upper trunk and incomplete OBPP cases, but outcomes of severely affected lower trunk and panpalsy cases was poor. https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/BSMMUJ/article/view/75605obstetric brachial plexus palsyrehabilitationphysiotherapysurgery
spellingShingle Krishna Priya Das
Rumpa Mani Chowdhury
Sk. Murad Ahmed
Md. Moniruzaman
Mohammod Shahidullah
Short-term outcome of physiotherpy and surgical treatment of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal
obstetric brachial plexus palsy
rehabilitation
physiotherapy
surgery
title Short-term outcome of physiotherpy and surgical treatment of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy
title_full Short-term outcome of physiotherpy and surgical treatment of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy
title_fullStr Short-term outcome of physiotherpy and surgical treatment of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy
title_full_unstemmed Short-term outcome of physiotherpy and surgical treatment of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy
title_short Short-term outcome of physiotherpy and surgical treatment of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy
title_sort short term outcome of physiotherpy and surgical treatment of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy
topic obstetric brachial plexus palsy
rehabilitation
physiotherapy
surgery
url https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/BSMMUJ/article/view/75605
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AT skmuradahmed shorttermoutcomeofphysiotherpyandsurgicaltreatmentofobstetricalbrachialplexuspalsy
AT mdmoniruzaman shorttermoutcomeofphysiotherpyandsurgicaltreatmentofobstetricalbrachialplexuspalsy
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