United Brachial Plexus Network

Hi Everyone!
We started the process of removing Amanda's splint this weekend. She is doing incredibly well and hasn't even needed Tylenol. My question is for those of you who've gone through the caps surgery: How long did it take for the arm to come down to the side? And also, how long did you continue having your child wear their splint to school or daycare? Amanda will be in daycare until June 30th so I'm considering leaving it on for the remainder.
Thanks!
Rachel

Rachel,

We just took Kelsey's off June 1st. She is just finally starting to put her arm down, but still not completely. I asked Dr. Nath, and he said it would take several weeks. Kelsey wears her splint out to play and to bed. I am pretty cautious and she is very ACTIVE!

Good luck and congratulations for getting the splint off!

Nancy

Hi, Rachel! I'm glad to hear that things are going so well. I think I'd want to do the same as you and just leave the splint on at daycare for the rest of the month. It's really not that long. I've been much more cautious with this surgery than with the Mod Quad. I guess it's the thought of how some of the earlier Caps surgeries had to be repeated b/c they weren't holding and, the thought of having to repeat a surgery is NOT one that I like to even think about more than necessary. Nicole's not in school or daycare so I didn't have to face this issue, but we have evening congregation meetings 2 nights a week and I would put her splint on for the night before we went to the meeting. She likes to play with her friends after the meeting and I was just taking extra precautions (I did that the entire 2nd 8 weeks).

As far as the arm coming down to the side, it didn't take too long for the most part. However, Nicole still doesn't hold her arm totally straight down and touching her body. I mean, to the average person, it looks straight, but a "BP Mom" would see that there's a small space b/w her arm and her body. It ranges from about 1/2" wide of a gap to prob. about 1-2" gap toward the lower part of her arm. I don't think she can actually even bring it into her body. When I ask her to do it, she only seems to be able to do it by tilting her trunk. Her PT has us working on "pillow squeezes" to help with this. The way she described it is to put a pillow under her arm and have her squeeze it into her body while you try to pull the pillow out from behind her. I'll let you know how it goes b/c she just gave us this idea. I hope things continue to go well. Take care.

-Tina

My Daughter (3 years old) had the caps 11/26. So it has been about 6 1/2 months since. She still has a difficult time bringing her arm down all the way to the side of her body. Her therapist is now having her pack a small stuffed animal around by squeezing it to her side with her arm. I wish we would have thought to start this earlier. Dr. Nath did tell us that it can take quite some time. This was about a month ago.

About the daycare thing I do daycare in my home so she was home with me. When I let her go places (like I let her go to a picnic with my dad) I had her where it. Just because she is such a busy little thing. She will try anything.

Hope this helps!
Jodi

Rachel - it takes time, some kids more, some kids less. Maia took a lot of time and her range is still improving. Does this mean we can go to the pool together now? Let me know when you think she's up to it.
Congratulate Amanda and give her a huge kissie from me and Maia!!

-francine