This message has been cross posted to the following Discussions: Forensic and IALCP .
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Greetings to all from the southern "winter wonderland"!
I am updating a LCP for a child with BPP who lives in the Chicago area. She has a flail left arm, but uses her upper arm as an assist (e.g., moved it with her right arm to put it on the table to hold paper with her elbow while she colored for me, could put her hand over a lever door knob, but not grasp it tight enough to turn it). She did persist in getting her coat on by herself.
IME Neurologist has suggested that perhaps the research done for war veterans with traumatic brachial plexus injuries will ultimately help her. Since her left arm will always be shorter, he recommends researching options for a prosthetic for her (e.g., after she reaches skeletal maturity) that will fit over her arm and allow her to use her (limited) finger dexterity to operate it and increase function. Perhaps some type of myoelectric device?
I googled BPP and prosthetics and found some resources ....but all seem to discuss amputation of a flail arm with subsequent prosthetic fitting....not use of an existing arm "inside" a prosthetic.
Has anyone written a plan or provided case management for someone with this type of prosthesis.
Are recommendations for resources/prosthetists (at Walter Reed or other centers) that I can contact to discuss?
Thanks much
Ann Neulicht
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Ann T. Neulicht PhD
(919) 870-6048
Raleigh, NC
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