What it is
A short, honest summary.
- —Brachial plexus — kandhe, baanh aur haath ki supply karne waala nerve network — ki injury, aam taur par janm par.
- —Severity temporary kamzori (neurapraxia) se lekar nerve rupture ya avulsion tak hoti hai.
- —Early, consistent physiotherapy outcome ka sabse mahatvapoorṇ single determinant hai.
What families notice
The signals worth taking seriously.
- 01Janm ke baad bagal mein latakti limp baanh
- 02Bachche ke badhne par baanh ka asymmetric use (ek hand ko exclusively prefer karna)
- 03Kam shoulder range — khaaskar abduction aur external rotation
- 04Ek 'waiter's tip' posture: shoulder andar rotated, elbow extended
- 05Newborns mein asymmetric Moro reflex
My approach
How the work is structured.
- —Shoulder contractures rokne ke liye roz ki passive range-of-motion.
- —Bachche ke develop hone par play-based active movement kaam.
- —Caregiver training — roz kya karein, kisse bachein, kya watch karein.
- —Paediatric neurology aur, jahaan indicated ho, surgical teams ke saath coordination.
What recovery looks like
A plain-language picture.
“Early intervention ke saath, zyaadatar infants substantial ya full arm function dobara haasil karte hain. Surgery chahne waale cases bhi long-term rehabilitation se achha jawaab dete hain.”
FAQ
Common questions, answered briefly.
- Humein kitni jaldi physiotherapy shuru karni chahiye?
- Jeevan ke pehle hafton mein. Jitni jaldi hum shuru karein, long-term outcome utna achha.
- Kya mere bachche ko surgery chahiye hogi?
- Zyaadatar ko nahi. Surgical referral tab sochi jaati hai jab 3 mahine tak biceps function na ho — aapka neurologist us decision ka maargdarshan karega.
For clinicians
Clinical detail, assessment and evidence.
Clinical summary
The picture in clinician register.
Erb's palsy is an obstetric brachial-plexus injury, typically of the upper trunk (C5-C6); severity ranges from neurapraxia to rupture or avulsion. Most recover substantially with early range-of-motion and developmental, play-based work; the return of biceps function by around three months is a key prognostic and surgical-decision marker.
Terminology
Terms worth being precise about.
- Brachial plexus
- The nerve network supplying the upper limb; the upper trunk is affected in Erb's palsy.
- Neurapraxia vs rupture vs avulsion
- Increasing severity of nerve injury, with worsening prognosis.
- 'Waiter's tip' posture
- Arm adducted and internally rotated, elbow extended — the classic resting posture.
- Glenohumeral dysplasia
- Shoulder-joint deformity that can develop from a persistent muscle imbalance.
Assessment aur measures
What the first sessions measure.
- —Active and passive range, especially shoulder abduction and external rotation.
- —The Active Movement Scale; biceps function tracked against the 3-month marker.
- —Assessment for evolving glenohumeral dysplasia.
Red flags
Signs that need urgent escalation.
- Absent biceps function by 3 months — the threshold for surgical referral.
- Horner's syndrome — suggests nerve-root avulsion.
- A fixed contracture or progressive shoulder dysplasia.
Referral aur MDT
When and to whom to refer.
Paediatric neurology. A specialist brachial-plexus surgical service if recovery markers are not met; occupational therapy.
Evidence
References and guideline anchors.
- Early intervention and outcome in obstetric brachial-plexus injury — PLACEHOLDER — verify against current guidelines before launch.