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Early electrodiagnosis in the management of neonatal brachial plexus palsy: A systematic review
Author(s) -
Looven Ruth,
Le Roy Laura,
Tanghe Emma,
Broeck Christine,
Muynck Martine,
Vingerhoets Guy,
Pitt Matthew,
Vanderstraeten Guy
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.26762
Subject(s) - medicine , palsy , observational study , brachial plexus , physical medicine and rehabilitation , neuroimaging , physical therapy , intensive care medicine , surgery , pathology , alternative medicine , psychiatry
Neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) is a prominent form of newborn morbidity with a potentially disabling persistence. Neurosurgical intervention is indicated in select NBPP patients. Early prognostic assessment would facilitate rational selection of those infants for surgery. We conducted a systematic literature review to determine the prognostic value of early electrodiagnosis (EDx) in NBPP. We included 16 observational studies with a total sample size of 747 children. Risk of bias and quality of evidence were rated. Wide variation was found in EDx techniques, outcome algorithms, and decisionmaking. Nevertheless, the most methodologically sound studies support the use of EDx, at standardized time‐frames, as a key prognostic modality for complementing clinical judgment and neuroimaging. An accurate knowledge of the underlying anatomy of the nerve injury helps to counsel families and to guide reconstructive strategy.