CDC Response

Photo courtesy of the late Dr. J. Laurent

This is how the CDC responded to my question about tracking OBPI:
Because CDC is not a regulatory agency, it does not have the authorityto mandate reporting of health conditions. National surveillance forpublic health conditions is conducted on a voluntary basis, usuallythrough state health departments which have their own individualreporting requirements.
Most state birth defects surveillance programs monitor malformationsthat arise during gestation, rather than abnormalities that originateduring delivery or in the newborn period. However, the Division of HumanDevelopment and Disability within our center focuses on the health ofpersons living with disabilities, regardless of the origin of thecondition. I will forward your suggestion to them.
So, I guess this is a start???? ARGH!!!!

Results of Occurrence of OBPI Survey

You can find out the growing results of the Occurrence of OBPI Survey at: http://www.opinionpower.com/results.cgi?id=343045530

I am in contact with the CDC regarding how we can go about getting them to track and collect this data. Hopefully, we will hear something back soon. I will keep you updated.

Occurrence of OBPI

Photo by P. Bailey

Do you think that the incidence of OBPI in recent years has:

1. Decreased

2. Increased

3. Stayed about the same

The CDC's National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), does not collect or maintain the data on the occurrence of brachial plexus birth injuries ( e.g. Erb's Palsy).
Anyway, I am just curious to what you all think. I have been getting a lot of feed back from the above question, so I thought I would create an online survey.
Oh, yeh! The survey can be found at: http://www.opinionpower.com/Surveys/343045530.html

National Brachial Plexus/Erb's Palsy Association, Inc.

Did you know you can still find the National Brachial Plexus/Erb's Palsy Association, Inc., site at:

http://web.archive.org/web/20021128141009/www.nbpepa.org/

It is loaded on a Web Archive. It has a lot of information, and also has useful links.

You-Tube and More News

I was really amazed to see quite a few videos on You-Tube regarding Brachial Plexus Injuries.

Here are a few:
The Many Faces of Brachial Plexus Injuries
FranLitz - 5 min - Nov 13, 2006 - (5 ratings)
Slide Show by Allison Steigerwalt - Mom to Bradley. Brachial plexus injuries are lifelong injuries that affect the individual and family on so many levels. ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhvoM-nsqhs


Video story Femke's first year
johnstrike - 4 min - Sep 1, 2006
Showing the remarkable recovery of Femke after suffering from Brachial Plexus Injury.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqxsAbP-XNU

Kanaan's First Day of Therapy
chrystalhurst - 1 min - Dec 5, 2006
Kanaan's first day of therapy @ Shriner's in Philly with Danielle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzas2x4YHoQ

Kanaan Clapping
chrystalhurst - 51 sec - Dec 8, 2006
Kanaan clapping after his Anterior Capsule Release
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEo215-BYvA

Isn’t this a wonderful medium.


More News from Google:
Mother, child awarded $1.8 million for injuries during childbirthVirginian Pilot, VA - Jan 12, 20072, 2004. He suffered a brachial plexus injury, according to a complaint filed in Virginia Beach Circuit Court. The injury caused nerves in the child’s neck ...