Brachial Plexus Birth Injury: Treatment and Interventions

Introduction: Brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) is a condition affecting newborns and involves damage to the nerve fibers compromising the brachial plexus during birth. Although most newborns recover spontaneously, a large subset require surgery to regain function, and others will have permanent disability despite intervention. Deciding when to pursue surgical intervention remains a challenge for clinicians treating BPBI. Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and MEDLINE databases. A total of 24 primary and secondary sources were chosen for inclusion following full-text assessments. All sources were analyzed to provide a comprehensive review on the development of BPBI treatments and interventions over time. Results: Spontaneous recovery can be achieved in many cases of BPBI, but most patients require physical therapy and other forms of treatment to avoid muscle imbalance and prevent contracture formation. In addition to physical therapy, the most common non-surgical interventions include botulinum toxin injections and splinting. In cases requiring surgery, clinicians may use several tests and diagnostic imaging to aid in decision making. Common surgical interventions for BPBI include nerve grafting, nerve transfers, and muscle and tendon transfers. Conclusion: Most newborns recover from BPBI within the first 3 months of life. However, some require treatment to restore optimal function. In general, non-surgical interventions should be the primary course of treatment, and surgery should be avoided unless the patient is deemed unable to recover with any other treatment.