The risk is greater when the mother is small or when the infant is of large weight. Risk of injury to the lower brachial plexus results from traction on an abducted arm, as with an infant being pulled from the birth canal by an extended arm above the head or with someone catching themselves by a branch as they fall from a tree. Lower brachial plexus injuries should be distinguished from upper brachial plexus injuries, which can also result from birth trauma but give a different syndrome of weakness known as Erbs palsy. Other trauma, such as motorcycle accidents, that have similar spinal cord injuries to C8 and T1, also show the same symptoms of Klumpkes paralysis. Diagnosis
Electromyography and nerve conduction velocity testing can help to diagnose the location and severity of the lesion. Otherwise, the diagnosis is one made clinically after a thorough neurologic exam. Treatment
Treatment effectiveness varies depending on the initial severity of the injury. Physiotherapy is used to increase strength of muscle and improve muscle functions. Electrical modalities such as electric nerve stimulation can also be used.Occupational therapy to provide exercises and coping mechanisms to improve the patients ability to perform activities of daily living. Goals of therapy are to improve tactile sensation, proprioception, and range of motion.Acute treatment of a severe injury will involve repositioning and splinting or casting of the extremity. Epidemiology
Klumpke Palsy is listed as a rare disease by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
This means that Klumpke palsy, or a subtype of Klumpke palsy, affects fewer than 200,000 people in the US population. See also
Dystocia
Erbs palsy

References


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