APPLICATION OF EXTERNAL POWER IN BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURY MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

This paper will describe the process of applying external power technology in the traditionally complex clinical area of brachial plexus injury (BPI) management. The acute and long term management of people who have acquired BPI’s often presents the clinical team with many complex management challenges. Simpson [1] concisely summarised the core functional prerequisites that are needed for upper limb function as: • Proximal stability – shoulder integrity • Placement in space – ability to position the limb • Functional grasp – the effectiveness of prehension. When BPI’s are so frequently accompanied by closed head injuries, a further prerequisite is simplicity in design and operation. We intend to illustrate the importance of considering these principles through the presentation of a single case study of a client who we have been working with for the past 7 years.