POWERING RECOVERY: TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION (TENS) FOR NEONATAL BRACHIAL PLEXUS PALSY – A NOVEL INTERVENTION

Abstract

Background: Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy (NBPP) is a peripheral nerve injury occurring at birth, commonly due to shoulder dystocia or delivery complications. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), though well-documented in adults, has limited literature support in neonates. This study evaluates the motor recovery outcomes of TENS in NBPP.

Methods: Four male infants diagnosed with NBPP were enrolled from the NICU of Saveetha Medical College. All underwent TENS therapy in addition to standard physiotherapy. Stimulation used galvanic current at 2.5–4.5 mA, 20 Hz, for 30–100 seconds, delivering 15 contractions per muscle. A bipolar electrode setup was used.
Results: All infants showed improvement. Two achieved scores of 4 and 5 on the Toronto Test, crossing the surgical intervention threshold. The remaining two, with scores <3.5, still demonstrated significant gains in strength and movement quality.

Conclusion: TENS is a promising adjunct therapy for NBPP, promoting motor recovery and potentially reducing surgical need. Further controlled studies are required.