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Unit Information
The Brachial Plexus Service at the
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been caring for patients with brachial
plexus injuries from around the country for over 18 years. During this time
valuable experience and expertise has been established so that we are currently
one of only a few centres in this country that have the facillities and skilled
staff to manage this injury comprehensively.This unit has a strong interest
in collaborative research into this specialist area and has produced research
in both adult and obstetrical palsies in combination with the University
of Umea, Sweden.
The unit is part of the service provided by the Plastics, Hands and Reconstructive Surgery Department which is located on one site at St James's University Hospital in Chancellor's Wing. Patients who are referred from outside of the Leeds area may have their care shared with this department and their local hospital.
All new referrals to our unit will be assessed using the Toronto active movement
scoring system by our Specialist Physiotherapy Practitioner when the child is
12 weeks of age. Dependent upon this score and the child's clinical urgency
they will then be reviewed before six months of age in a Consultant led out-patient
children's hand clinic, occurring every Tuesday afternoon. In this clinic children
will be reassessed and their scores will be compared for signs of improvement.
Following the assessments and after discussion between the parents and consultant
a decision will be made on whether primary nerve surgery is required to enhance
the child's arm function. If surgery is needed a date will be given for the
child to be admitted before they are six months of age or earlier if the injury
is severe. The operation will initially involve direct inspection of the damaged
nerves and then is aimed towards therapeutic repair or restoration of the brachial
plexus by nerve repair or transfer.
| Page last reviewed: 30/01/06 | Page last updatred: 30/01/06 | Next scheduled page review date: 30/09/06 |