Post nerve transfer neuroplastic motor retraining program in adults with traumatic brachial plexus injury: A physiotherapist’s perspective

Abstract

Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury is a devastating, acquired peripheral nerve injury seldom due to road traffic accidents, involving young males, especially riding two wheelers. Recent epidemiological studies undertaken in Indian population suggest a 30% increase in the occurrence of traumatic brachial plexus injury over the years. There has been an advent of a lot of new surgical techniques for the treatment of traumatic brachial plexus injury, nerve transfers being one of them if the patient falls within the criteria’s of carrying out a nerve transfer. As a physiotherapist rehabilitating these surgical procedures, one needs to have a thorough understanding of the anatomical aspects of the surgery and how to go about the rehabilitation of the same. Thus the aim of this narrative report is to discuss the rehabilitation techniques followed over a decade at a government tertiary care hospital leading to successful rehabilitation of traumatic brachial plexus injury patients. Keywords: Nerve transfers, Rehabilitation, Traumatic brachial plexus injury.