gms | German Medical Science

49. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Plastische, Ästhetische und Rekonstruktive Chirurgie (ÖGPÄRC), 42. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft der Plastischen, Rekonstruktiven und Ästhetischen Chirurgen e. V. (DGPRÄC), 16. Jahrestagung der Vereinigung der Deutschen Ästhetisch-Plastischen Chirurgen e. V. (VDÄPC)

29.09. - 01.10.2011, Innsbruck

Immobilizing therapy in the treatment of obstetrical brachial plexus injuries

Meeting Abstract

  • author Thilo Schenck - Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
  • T. Bayer - S. Merzendorfer oHG, Orthopädie-Technik, Munich, Germany
  • A. Enders - Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität Munich, Germany
  • M.-A. Marton - Kinderzentrum München, Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum (SPZ), Munich, Germany
  • H.-G. Machens - Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
  • W. Müller-Felber - Department of pediatric surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München
  • R. E. Giunta - Department of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany

Österreichische Gesellschaft für Plastische, Ästhetische und Rekonstruktive Chirurgie. Deutsche Gesellschaft der Plastischen, Rekonstruktiven und Ästhetischen Chirurgen. Vereinigung der Deutschen Ästhetisch-Plastischen Chirurgen. 49. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Plastische, Ästhetische und Rekonstruktive Chirurgie (ÖGPÄRC), 42. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft der Plastischen, Rekonstruktiven und Ästhetischen Chirurgen (DGPRÄC), 16. Jahrestagung der Vereinigung der Deutschen Ästhetisch-Plastischen Chirurgen (VDÄPC). Innsbruck, 29.09.-01.10.2011. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2011. Doc11dgpraecP105

doi: 10.3205/11dgpraec289, urn:nbn:de:0183-11dgpraec2890

Published: September 27, 2011

© 2011 Schenck et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

Text

The majority of cases of obstetrical plexus palsies are mild traction injuries which resolve under physical therapy within several weeks or months. In cases of severe ruptures or avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus lifelong impairment of the upper extremities can occur. Hence, the indications for plexus reconstruction in severe injuries should be evaluated, early. At the age of about 3 months, the infant should be presented in a centre specialized in obstetrical brachial plexus palsies. In almost all cases intensive physical therapy is performed. In addition, many patients require splinting in order to gain function as part of the conservative therapy or for postoperative fixation. Depending on the type of splint, different demands are made on design, material and strategy of adjustment. Many different natural and synthetic materials are available for orthopedic constructions. Because of its good adjustment options, the use of low temperature thermoplastic is steadily increasing. Here we present an illustrated overview of our currently used splints and new technical developments in our experience with more than 200 patients with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy. We present our experience and technical details with the most common splints for the use in fixation after birth-related brachial plexus surgery, subscapularis release, trapezius muscle transfer and functional improvement of hands with a lack of wrist extension.