Brachial Plexus Clinic

Rady Children's Brachial Plexus Clinic provides comprehensive evaluations and follow-up services for children with brachial plexus injuries.

Team

Our multidisciplinary team includes an orthopedic surgeon, a neurosurgeon, an occupational therapist/hand therapist, a physician assistant, and a nurse coordinator. These professionals have expertise in dealing with complex issues that can arise, and they have seen hundreds of children with brachial plexus palsy.

C. Douglas Wallace, M.D., Director of Orthopedic Trauma; Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, UC San Diego

Michael L. Levy, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., Professor and Chief, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, the University of California, San Diego

Justin M. Brown, M.D., Director, Rady Children's  and UC San Diego Pediatric Neurosurgery Peripheral Nerve Program; Co-Director, Center for Neurophysiology and Restorative Neurology and Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, UC San Diego

Amanda Asaro, P.A.-C., Physician Assistant

Jill Peck-Murray, O.T.R./L., C.H.T., Occupational/Hand Therapist

Genie Creighton, R.N., Nurse/Clinic Coordinator

Services

• Initial multidisciplinary evaluation and monthly clinic visits to monitor status of arm recovery
• Referral for therapy services in the community and at Rady Children's and satellite locations. Our therapists have developed a specialized therapy program emphasizing parent education, an in-home family instruction program for proper positioning, and exercises to maintain motion and prevent tightness, as well as activities to encourage normal development of the child and to maximize the use of the weak arm. They will also provide post-surgical therapy when needed
• Consultation with a neurosurgeon, if needed, to assess potential for surgical intervention to free up the nerve (neurolysis) or bring new nerve (nerve graft) to the appropriate area
• Consultation with an orthopedic surgeon and surgical intervention, if indicated, for releasing tightness in the shoulder or elbow and transfer muscles to help gain more motion and use