Your Visit

Brachial Plexus Clinic Visits - What to Expect

The Brachial Plexus Center features accomplished specialists.

Initial Visit | Clinic Overview | What to Bring l Child's Comfort l
Care Plan l Where to Find the Brachial Plexus Center

Initial Visit to the Brachial Plexus Center

The Brachial Plexus Center's clinics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center take place on Tuesday afternoon or Friday morning. At the initial visit, your child is assessed by the team's physicians and therapist. The evaluation may include:

X-rays
Muscle testing
Testing for sensory function, diaphragm involvement and skeletal structure
Standardized scoring classifications (Toronto Score, Mallet Classification, Narakas Classification, etc.)
Observation of functional movement
Family input

Additional testing may include:

EMG
MRI
3D CT Scan
Ultrasound

Brachial Plexus Center Clinic Overview

It may be necessary for your child to have X-rays taken prior to meeting with the Brachial Plexus Center team at Cincinnati Children's, X-rays are taken in the Radiology Department adjacent to the clinic area. Once testing is complete, a nurse will accompany you and your child to a treatment room to gather medical history and / or other necessary information. Our Social Worker will be available during your visit for support and advice.

The team will then meet with your entire family in the treatment room to develop the best treatment plan to meet your child's needs.

What to Bring to Your Visit

Reports from previous doctors visits, including pediatricians, orthopaedic specialists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons, and / or therapists
Test results from past EMGs, MRIs and / or X-rays
A written list of questions for team members
A written list of functional goals that you and your child would like to work towards

For Your Child's Comfort

Please dress your child in a manner that allows access to the entire affected arm as well as the shoulder and upper back.
Please feel free to bring a snack for your child as Friday clinic runs into the lunch hour.
For younger children, please bring one or two of your child's favorite toys to clinic. This often helps make the wait seem shorter and may assist with motivation during the evaluation.

Individualized Care Plan

Based on the assessment, an individualized treatment plan and therapy program will be developed for your child. The goal is to optimize function of the affected upper extremity.

Therapy referrals may include aquatics, orthoses and neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Therapeutic taping may be used to facilitate positioning.

If you live in the Greater Cincinnati area, therapy is available at Cincinnati Children's main campus or at one of our ten conveniently located outpatient centers. Aquatic therapy is offered at our Children's facility at the Drake Center.

If you live outside the Greater Cincinnati area, the Brachial Plexus Center team will be happy to consult with therapy providers in your area.

Where to Find the Brachial Plexus Clinic

Brachial Plexus clinics at Cincinnati Children's are located in the Orthopaedic Clinic area on the main concourse of Location A. The receptionist will assist you in registering at the front desk.