Brachial Plexus Clinic

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The Brachial Plexus Clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic that specializes in the care of infants and children with brachial plexus injuries.

A brachial plexus injury occurs when there is a stretch or sometimes a tear in a bundle of nerves known as the brachial plexus located near the neck and upper arm area. Injury to these nerves may cause weakness, pain, sensory loss, and functional impairment. These injuries may occur around the time of birth or from trauma related to falls, motor vehicle accidents, or sports.

The multidisciplinary clinic includes specialists from Plastic Surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy, Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Orthopedics. The team assists families with surgical decision making; education regarding injury and prognosis; therapy assessment; home exercise programs; and coordination of care for therapy services, diagnostic testing, and bracing needs. A team discussion is held with the family to address questions and concerns.

Additionally, the team will develop a plan to best assist the child in recovery of function. 

Rice University Department of Engineering Collaboration

The Brachial Plexus Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital has an ongoing collaboration with Rice University Department of Engineering that has recently resulted in the production of a shoulder model that allows parents to practice exercises on a model prior to completing them on their infant who has an arm injury. The hope is that we decrease parent anxiety while allowing them to learn the skills to help their child.