Chiropractic treatment of a 7-month-old infant with Erb’s palsy due to birth trauma
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1
Life University, United States
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2
Agape Chiropractic, United States
Background:
A 7-month-old female patient presented to a Chiropractic office with persistent adduction and internal rotation of the upper arm, elbow extension and wrist flexion on the left. Her mother reported that the palsy resulted from a prolonged second stage of labor and vaginal delivery that was assisted by the use of forceps. The mother delivered in a recumbent position. A pediatric orthopedist diagnosed the birth induced brachial plexus injury as Erb’s palsy. Neither therapies nor treatments were prescribed by the child’s orthopedist.
Methods:
Patient exam findings included a left-sided weak grasp reflex, asymmetrical moro and parachute reflexes that were sluggish and reduced on the left, and reduced deep tendon reflexes in the upper extremity on the left. Her left foot was observed as inverted with flexed toes. Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT), also known as a chiropractic adjustment was performed at the levels of atlas and sacrum utilizing a sustained pressure contact. This was accomplished by the application of sustained pressure from the doctor’s fifth digit over the lateral mass of patient’s left atlas in a lateral to medial vector. Sustained pressure was utilized with a thumb contact on the left sacral ala with a posterior to anterior vector. Over the next two weeks, a series of SMTs were performed.
Results:
Immediately following the first SMT, the malposition of both the upper and lower extremities completely resolved and the child spontaneously and successfully used her left arm and hand to grasp a toy. At the end of the two weeks, upon re-examination all abnormal neurologic and orthopedic exam findings were within normal limits.
Conclusion: As a consequence of the successful and expedient outcome of this case, further research is warranted to explore the efficacy of chiropractic SMT in cases of birth induced palsies.
Keywords:
Palsy,
Birth Injuries,
Chiropractic,
spinal manipulation,
Brachial Plexus
Conference:
International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience: Clinical Neuroscience for Optimization of Human Function, Orlando, United States, 7 Oct - 9 Oct, 2016.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Abstracts ISCN 2016
Citation:
Poirier
N,
Esposito
SE and
Marti
D
(2016). Chiropractic treatment of a 7-month-old infant with Erb’s palsy due to birth trauma.
Front. Neurol.
Conference Abstract:
International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience: Clinical Neuroscience for Optimization of Human Function.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fneur.2016.59.00024
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Received:
29 Aug 2016;
Published Online:
07 Sep 2016.
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Correspondence:
Dr. Susan E Esposito, Life University, Marietta, United States, susanesposito@gmail.com