Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Obstetric Brachial Plexus Injuries v0.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Diagnosing Obstetric Brachial Plexus Injuries: A Pilot Proof of Concept Study
IRAS ID
298941
Contact name
Grainne Bourke
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Obstetric brachial plexus injury refers to an injury at the time of birth to the network of nerves that supply movement and feeling to the arm. The injury is typically caused by high traction on the nerves during delivery. Significant pulling forces on the nerves can cause the nerve roots to become stretched or bruised, or if it is more severe the nerves can rupture (nerve pulls apart) or pull away completely from the spinal cord, called nerve root avulsion. This can have a range of effects on the function of the hand and arm, from a mild injury that will recover fully, to a severe injury leaving the patient with limited function. Patients with more severe obstetric brachial plexus injury can benefit from having surgery to reconstruct the damaged nerves.
Currently we perform Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans and ultrasound to examine the spinal level of the nerve injury and where the injury may be along the nerve in relation to the spinal cord, neck or arm. The scans can also give indication of the type of nerve injury sustained. However, current scanning techniques do not give clear answers so we cannot rely on them to make management decisions. Because of this, patients with moderate to severe injuries frequently undergo major exploratory surgery. We have been developing new MRI techniques in adult patients which have been promising and we hope to further develop these for use in children. Our aim is to improve MRI scans to reduce the number of babies and children undergoing unnecessary major operations, as well as identifying those that would benefit from surgery and what type of surgery would be useful. If new methods of scanning can be developed to deliver high levels of accuracy this could revolutionise the management of obstetric brachial plexus injury.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
23/WA/0223
Date of REC Opinion
11 Sep 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion