Current Concepts in the Management of Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Injuries

The existence of birth palsies of the upper limbs has been noted for a very long time. However, there have existed several misconceptions about the prognosis and eventual functional recovery. All forms of palsy noted at birth are termed “Erb’s palsy.” Most doctors feel that these injuries always recover spontaneously and such babies always “do well” in the long-term. Often, “physiotherapy” is the only treatment prescribed and we see patients who have continued such supervised exercises till adulthood in the presence of deformities.