Educational therapy for caregivers of children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy: a scoping review

Abstract

Introduction: Obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP), a condition resulting from the stretching of nerve structures in an infant's upper limb during childbirth, necessitates early physiotherapy intervention. Continuation of rehabilitative activities at home is critical for optimal recovery, highlighting the need for effective caregiver education in managing this condition. This scoping review seeks to consolidate and examine existing research on physiotherapy treatments for OBPP, with a specific focus on the educational support provided to caregivers. The ultimate objective is to develop an informative booklet for caregivers, offering essential guidance for home management of affected children.

Evidence acquisition: A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus and PEDro from May to October 2023, with no restrictions on study design, evidence level, publication date, geography, or language. Articles were selected based on preset eligibility criteria.

Evidence synthesis: The search yielded 13 relevant studies, encompassing a diverse range of research designs including reviews, systematic reviews, case reports, controlled trials, and a retrospective study.

Conclusions: This review underscores the necessity of a personalized rehabilitation approach in treating OBPP, with parental involvement being crucial. It also identifies a gap in research regarding the long-term effectiveness of these interventions, suggesting the need for further studies to ascertain optimal treatment modalities.