United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I have confidence in Dr. Hentz and his skills, I just feel sometimes he's being vague. But due to the unpredictable nature of neurology, the emotions that mothers and fathers face in finding the best care for their children, and the litigious nature of our society, I can understand why he hesitates to give more pat answers.

I know he cant tell me what Ava will or wont be doing days or months from now. He is giving me the best information he can give from his experiences. I think that for most doctors that is the case. He does have a lot of experience with BPI and I have seen other children there who have had the surgery and its been wildly succesful for them.

I have to add that in my case Ava's injury is not as severe as others. She has quite a bit of movment and also knows that as parents we have chosen to go more of a conservative route in our treatment because of the progress we have seen.

Okay, so I have been reading all of the posts about different doctors and clinics, etc.
Here is my question...maybe I am behind in these terms, but I now need to know...
What is the exact meaning of BPI "clinic"?
What is the difference between seeing a specialist whether they consider themselves to be a clinic or not. Honestly, I don't even know if Boston/Dr Waters is considered a clinic although the first I have heard of the word from them was when we received Ella's surgery and Pre Op dates with the words:
Pre-Operative Clinic and Orthopaedic Clinic
Before then I knew that Dr Waters did EVERY type of surgery associated with a Brachial Plexus Injury and I knew he was our man no matter what Ella needed...that's it. Never knew if it was considered a "clinic" or not.
Oh well, maybe I am lost or something, but does it really matter? Fill me in please! =)
Krista

Bringing this back up to top so maybe someone can answer my previous post here.
~Krista~

Krista,
I hope this isn't silly but I got looked it up in a dictionary to help me exlain!! I only cut and pasted the first two definations.
clin·ic
1. A facility, often associated with a hospital or medical school, that is devoted to the diagnosis and care of outpatients.
2. A medical establishment run by several specialists working in cooperation and sharing the same facilities.

We seen Dr. Adelson. He is our BPI specialist. Once a month he holds a neurosurgery clinic where all his patients that he is following long term come for evaluation and such. Usually we are seen by lots of different people... Therapists, Residents, Interns, Orthopedic surgeon and Neuro Surgeon.

Some hospitals like TCH have a specific BPI Clinic. It is up and running all the time. That is all they do in that office. Many other BPI specalists see other types of patients with different diagnoises.

Ok I am not sure if I helped you or not but I hope so!!
Blessings,
Kristie

I have to apologize for any misleading concerns about Dr. Hentz. I don't know him and I did state he is probably an Excellent Doctor! My reason for not wanting to drive 9 hours north to see him was due to my insurance trying to avoid TCH, which is 3 hours away in flight. In my situation, I already saw 3 other Dr.'s that could not help my son for insurance reasons and it was wasting valuable time. I did a lot of research and knew there wasn't anyone in CA that would perform the nerve graft specific to TCH. We finally saw a Dr. At Cedar Ciani that recommended us. It was an exhaustive battle with insurance,but once they heard my case and started to understand ERb's Palsy more,they too realized. Anyhow, here we are again at TCH this week for Owen's 2nd surgery. I just want parent's to realize that we would not be here if we listened to most of the Dr.'s that told us to just wait and did not recommend surgery... Research and get 2nd or 3rd opinions before making a decision. Good Luck and once again, no offense to anyone.

Orabshire, no offense taken! I think we are all pursuing what we each perceive to be the best care for our children.

hey.
i so agree with you .
DR.Henz is seeing my daughter right now.
And said she needs nerve graft primary surgery .
He is a wonderful person with our daughter 4 months old.
And he answers are questions.

Here is my problem with anyone who feels that the answers they get from a bpi specialist are vague...we all got into this situation because of a doctor (sorry, birthing professional) who did not converse with us as the labor was progressing. That doctor did not say "we have a shoulder dystocia here, lets see if we can turn you over and relieve it..."

There is a bpi doc that I know whose bedside manner is "curt." A mom I know went to him and did not mind the attitude because he was very informative and all she wanted was information and action. She got both. As time marched on, and she wasn't so angry, she realized that she wanted more from this long-term relationship. So she switched to a more personable doctor.

My point is this: you really need to find a bpi specialist with whom you can talk. You need to find someone who doesn't require you "get up your courage". And, even if you have decided on a more conservative approach, this is an injury that begs for more than one opinion.

I was in Italy at the BPI conference, and the doctors do not see things the same. Especially with kids who do not clearly fall one way or the next. When my daughter was an infant, the choices were easy for us: our daughter had a flail arm and no hand function. We went to TCH on many high recommendations and did surgery. Years later...I am slower to do things. I talk to other doctors...

At 5.5 months, with some recovery, I would send a video to one of the other specialists. Go on the Medical Resource page and pick one or two. The great thing about video is that you don't even have to go there!!!! And they will talk to you. BTW, make sure you get the name of any neurosurgeon they say they have working with them...in order to do primary surgery they have to have a neurosurgeon. Orthopedists and plastic surgeons can't do nerve surgery, only neurosurgeons can. That is why some of the centers are a team approach: they have "everyone" look at a child.

Oh, and YOU HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE INJURY TO YOUR CHILD. OBPI IS DUE TO EXCESSIVE TRACTION ON THE INFANT DURING THE BIRTHING PROCESS. Unless you reached down and pulled up really, really hard...you did nothing wrong.

Good luck,
claudia