Affiliations: Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine,
University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Department of Physiotherapy, Korle Bu Teaching
Hospital, Accra, Ghana | School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana,
Accra, Ghana
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Talhatu K. Hamzat, Department of
Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, PMB 5017 GPO Dugbe
Ibadan, Nigeria. Tel.: +234 8052457016; E-mail: tkhamzat@comui.edu.ng;
talkzat@yahoo.com
Abstract: The aim of this study was to provide hospital-based epidemiological
information about newborn brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) in Accra, Ghana. The
records of all pediatric patients treated over a 5-year period (December 1999
and December 2004) were retrieved to identify those with NBPP. The records of
those who had NBPP were further reviewed to document their sociodemography,
diagnosis, labor and birth history, presentation at birth, mode and place of
delivery. A total of 773 patients' records were reviewed out of which 210
(27.2%) were cases of NBPP. Using the 1987 Narakas system of classification,
majority (94.8%) of the NBPP cases were of group~I type brachial plexus
injury or Erb's palsy, with a male predominance (61.4%), and most (79.5%)
were delivered by normal vaginal delivery (52.9%) and most (70.9%) were
cephalic in presentation at birth. About 55.2% cases were referred for
physiotherapy within one month of diagnosis. The treatment disposition for
majority (88.1%) of the NBPP patients was not documented and only (4.8%)
was formally discharged from physiotherapy. The results indicate that birth
weight exceeding 4.0 kg, vertex presentation and vaginal delivery were the
noticeable co-existing factors for NBPP in this population. The Erb's type was
the modal type of NBPP in the sample and majority were delivered in private
clinics. The clinical, economic and sociocultural implications of this
disorder, as well as the importance of better clinical documentation in
physiotherapy and needs for a national survey for NBPP in Ghana was
discussed.
