United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Alannah's arm at times seems to be a tiny bit shorter than her uninjured one, and at times it does not! I think it may depend on her growth rate at the time! Camille B. (grandma)

You won't see a lot of actual difference (meaning centimeters or inches of difference) in a young child, because they are so small to start with. But the Kozin study showed that the *proportional* difference was stable between 4 and 16 years old. A difference of 10% would be hard to detect in a small child, with small arms to start with! For instance, our second son is 18 months old. His forearm is 10cm long. If it was 10% shorter than the other, it would be only 1cm shorter... less than half an inch, which would be hard to detect. But as an adult, his forearm will be about 3x that length, so that 1cm difference would eventually become more than 3cm - or about an inch and a half.

It's very tough to tell about upper arm length differences because, as Francine pointed out, the upper arm can hang very differently if it is subluxed, making the arm "appear" shorter than it actually is.

Kate

Mica,
Jamie's right(affected) arm is shorter than her left. I find the only "negative" problem if you can call it that is that when she wears tanktops the right strap slips off her sholdur.

Sorry I'm just checking this thread again! Thank you all so much for taking the time to answer this question - and thank you for all the detail you provided!

I was hoping that a difference would have already shown itself if it would happen, but somewhere inside I knew that couldn't be correct. Thank you for your honesty.

As Aria's mom, I so desperately want to spare her some of the horrors associated with her injury - especially physical and emotional pain... I read some of the posts from the adults with this injury and I'm just blown away by their strength and fighting spirits.

Okay, now I'm babbling. Again, thank you for sharing with me about this subject.

Dear Mica,
YOUR daughter Aria will blow you away too because she IS and will continueto be Strong Spirited, and Resilient after surgeries/medical interventions!! Remember, too, that we OBPI-er's are very stubborn willed. We are awesome!!

HUGS all around,
Carolyn J LOBPI/68+..

You most certainly are awesome! I tell everyone that I have a 9 month old who is stronger than I am!!!

Mica, Sidney is now a year old and I noticed a difference at 10 months of age. Her right arm is shorter than the other. I haven't measured the difference,probably because I don't really want to know.

Mica

Olivia turned 3 in April. As you know, Olivia also has a bilateral injury. Her left arm is much more severe than the right. At her last splinting appointment, I asked the orthodist to measure her arms. They still measure the same, and I dont notice any difference in the sizes of her hands.

Hope this helps.

Veronica
Mom of Olivia, 3, Bi-OBPI

Thank you!

Today is a better day for us. Aria is trying ever so hard to use her right arm, and I am feeling hopeful.