Laurie,
I hope you are doing well and you are enjoying the summer. I am going to be evaluating a dog this Friday with a brachial plexus injury. I was just wondering if there is anything specific I should be looking for or testing during the evaluation? For some reason I am a little nervous about seeing this dog as brachial plexus injuries were just mentioned at CRI but never really discussed it much. Any advice is welcome.
Please say hello to everyone for me.
All the best.
J
Another Brachial Plexus Injury
Another Brachial Plexus Injury
LAURIE EDGE-HUGHES
Re: Another Brachial Plexus Injury
I use e-stim 5pps, continuous, 300 pulse width, as a way to test if there is anything coming from the nerve.
They are tough to treat - I laser the neck and axilla to help with nerve regeneration. I have made splints to help with weight bearing.
Owner education is key in regards to limb mutilation… if they nerve grow back, the dog could get a pins and needles sensation and chew at the leg. I’ve had one dog damn near chew it off… despite warning the owners that if he starts to lick at it, put him in a cone ASAP. So, if the dog is showing any interest in the leg, put him in a cone (and maybe suggest Gabapentin and/or a sedative to the vet to help him through the pins and needles phase.) Treatment is tricky. You don’t know IF the nerve will come back, so you test, you laser, you can do some gentle stretches (usually to biceps and brachiocephalicus & perhaps lats as well.) They’re kind of a crap shoot… much better if there is some muscle activity coming, then you can work on function, but until then, it’s just sort of depressing. Oh, you could stimulate acupoints… and again, cross your fingers.
Best of luck and OMG your puppy is adorable! Congratulations!!
Laurie
They are tough to treat - I laser the neck and axilla to help with nerve regeneration. I have made splints to help with weight bearing.
Owner education is key in regards to limb mutilation… if they nerve grow back, the dog could get a pins and needles sensation and chew at the leg. I’ve had one dog damn near chew it off… despite warning the owners that if he starts to lick at it, put him in a cone ASAP. So, if the dog is showing any interest in the leg, put him in a cone (and maybe suggest Gabapentin and/or a sedative to the vet to help him through the pins and needles phase.) Treatment is tricky. You don’t know IF the nerve will come back, so you test, you laser, you can do some gentle stretches (usually to biceps and brachiocephalicus & perhaps lats as well.) They’re kind of a crap shoot… much better if there is some muscle activity coming, then you can work on function, but until then, it’s just sort of depressing. Oh, you could stimulate acupoints… and again, cross your fingers.
Best of luck and OMG your puppy is adorable! Congratulations!!
Laurie
LAURIE EDGE-HUGHES