Early operative intervention for birth injuries to the brachial plexus.

Early surgical repair is indicated for selected infants who sustain birth trauma to the brachial plexus. In children with global or total paralysis, surgery should be performed by 3 to 4 months of age to maximize ultimate extremity function. Although the timing of surgery for children with Erb's palsy remains controversial, in properly selected cases, nerve reconstruction leads to an improvement in shoulder function and overall limb function.