• Rubin D
• Drumheller K

• Affiliation / Private Practice
• Affiliation(G) / United States / Georgia / Marietta
• Affiliation(G) / United States / Tennessee / Knoxville
• Birth Injuries
• Brachial Plexus Neuropathies
• Infant
• Male

Objective: The objective of this case study is to report on the positive health outcomes following chiropractic in a newborn who suffered from birth trauma and brachial plexus injury.

Clinical Features: A mother presented to a chiropractic office with her five-month-old son with severely limited left arm movement. The mother reported a healthy pregnancy but difficult labor and delivery where the infant presented transverse and experienced shoulder dystocia and birth trauma. An episiotomy and forceful pulling on the infant’s head and neck was performed in the delivery process.

Interventions and Outcomes: Chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxations was given to the patient utilizing a sustained contact as appropriate for the age and size of the patient. The infant gained full motion of his left arm within the two months of chiropractic care and the mother states her son may even have a tendency to be left-handed.

Conclusion: In this case, chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxations assisted in the recovery of brachial plexus injury following birth trauma and should be considered to aid those suffering from this injury.

Author keywords: Brachial Plexus, birth trauma, Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Injury pediatrics, Erb’s Palsy, chiropractic, vertebral subluxation

Author affiliations: DR: Private practice, Marietta, Georgia, United States; KD: Private practice, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

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