Brachial Plexus Birth Injury and Gross Motor Function: A Scoping Review

Purpose: Brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) is a neonatal injury occurring in 1.24 in 1,000 live births. The result of this injury on arm function is highly variable and has been the subject of many studies. However, the effect of BPBI on the development of overall gross motor function is less well studied. We aimed to synthesize the available literature on posture, balance and coordination, and gait in children with BPBI. Method: A scoping review was conducted by searching five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, and Web of Science) and the grey literature for all study types related to our question. Studies unrelated to birth injuries, animal studies, and literature reviews were excluded. Three researchers independently screened the studies during two rounds of review (title/abstract and full-text). Results: Of the 2,728 articles found, 16 articles were included. Overall, the average study quality was 0.90 out of 1.00. These studies suggest that observed postural deficits in BPBI are secondary to asymmetry rather than true scoliosis. Further, the asymmetrical nature of the injury results in both balance deficits and gait abnormalities when compared to healthy age-matched populations. Conclusions: The scoping review demonstrates that while there are obvious consequences to overall motor function and development in BPBI, these effects are likely under-studied. Further research should focus on understanding overall developmental differences in children with BPBI. Expanding on this information could possibly allow for earlier intervention, extended scope of physiotherapy, and better functional outcomes.