Rehabilitation of Nerve Transfers After Brachial Plexus Injuries

Course overview

Brachial plexus injuries are devastating injuries that affect all aspects of a person's life. The complexity of these injuries requires a specialized team-based approach to address the multifaceted aspects of returning the patient to meaningful occupations. Advancements in nerve transfers restore hope and function in those who have sustained brachial plexus injuries. Just as timely surgical intervention is essential to optimal recovery, pre- and postoperative rehabilitation play a distinct and vital role in maximizing outcomes. Although there is a lack of high-level studies demonstrating the ideal postoperative management of these injuries, a few key articles are beneficial for therapists treating these injuries to become familiar with. These articles provide foundational knowledge and concepts that assist therapists in developing an individualized rehabilitation program. Synthesis of these articles will be presented along with a case study that will allow therapists to understand the importance of a comprehensive evaluation, the criteria to progress the rehabilitation program, and interventions to address the multifaceted impairments this population presents with. This course is applicable to therapists at an intermediate level in all practice settings.