The Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics works closely with the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Division of Neurosurgery’s Brachial Plexus Program as well as outside providers to help treat children with congenital or acquired brachial plexus palsy.
Our team uses orthoses (braces) to help patients with brachial plexus injuries improve their range of motion, strength and function, or to provide protection. We also work with other medical specialties to make sure all of our patients’ needs are met. We work with neurosurgery, the orthopaedic surgery team, occupational therapy and the physical therapy team to make sure patients are diagnosed correctly and fully treated. After receiving an orthosis, patients have access to training and rehabilitation from our occupational and physical therapy teams.
Patients can schedule an appointment with us for an evaluation after they’ve received a prescription and referral from a physician.
At the first appointment, our team will perform a clinical evaluation and cast the patient to get the right measurements.
We’ll use the results of the evaluation and measurements to create the orthosis. Each orthosis is custom-made by our team, a process that takes about two weeks. After the brace is made, patients come in for a fitting to make sure it’s the correct size and comfortable.
Follow-up is an important part of the program; your child’s brace may need to be periodically checked and adjusted due to growth and progress.
After receiving a referral from a physician, you can make an appointment to have your child evaluated by calling 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC®). If you’ve been referred by the Brachial Plexus Program, you can call our office at 312.227.6210 to schedule an appointment.
We strongly recommend that you call your insurance provider before making an appointment to make sure bracing devices are covered in your plan.
Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children’s relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.
