Em geral, a perspectiva para a maioria dos pacientes com lesão do plexo braquial no nascimento (LPBN) é boa.[162]Bae DS, Zurakowski D, Avallone N, et al. Sports participation in selected children with brachial plexus birth palsy. J Pediatr Orthop. 2009 Jul-Aug;29(5):496-503.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19568024?tool=bestpractice.com
Muitas séries relataram recuperação total em mais de 70% a 80% das crianças com LPBN, com sequelas ausentes a mínimas em longo prazo.[49]Zafeiriou DI, Psychogiou K. Obstetrical brachial plexus palsy. Pediatr Neurol. 2008 Apr;38(4):235-42.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18358400?tool=bestpractice.com
[108]Basit H, Ali CDM, Madhani NB. Erb palsy. 2022 Feb 27. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Feb 27.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513260
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30020632?tool=bestpractice.com
[163]Bénié CA, Akobé JRA, Lohourou FG, et al. Obstetrical brachial plexus palsy (PBOPP): epidemiological, therapeutic and evolutionary features of patients at the Bouaké University Hospital, Ivory Coast [in French]. Pan Afr Med J. 2021;38:309.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34178227?tool=bestpractice.com
A extensão da lesão do nervo afeta o grau de recuperação espontânea e diminui com o aumento do grupo de Narakas da seguinte forma:[14]Al-Qattan MM, El-Sayed AA, Al-Zahrani AY, et al. Narakas classification of obstetric brachial plexus palsy revisited. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2009 Dec;34(6):788-91.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19786407?tool=bestpractice.com
[96]Pondaag W, Malessy MJA. Evidence that nerve surgery improves functional outcome for obstetric brachial plexus injury. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2021 Mar;46(3):229-36.
https://www.doi.org/10.1177/1753193420934676
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32588706?tool=bestpractice.com
Grupo 1: taxa de recuperação espontânea >80%
Grupo 2: taxa de recuperação espontânea em torno de 60%
Grupo 3: taxa de recuperação espontânea <50%
Grupo 4: taxa de recuperação espontânea em torno de 0%.
Crianças sem recuperação total aos 3 meses de idade provavelmente terão algum comprometimento residual.[6]Smith NC, Rowan P, Benson LJ, et al. Neonatal brachial plexus palsy: outcome of absent biceps function at three months of age. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2004 Oct;86-A(10):2163-70.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15466724?tool=bestpractice.com
[64]Waters PM. Comparison of the natural history, the outcome of microsurgical repair, and the outcome of operative reconstruction in brachial plexus birth palsy. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1999 May;81(5):649-59.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10360693?tool=bestpractice.com
[91]Hems TEJ, Savaridas T, Sherlock DA. The natural history of recovery of elbow flexion after obstetric brachial plexus injury managed without nerve repair. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2017 Sep;42(7):706-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28627963?tool=bestpractice.com
[110]Annika J, Paul U, Anna-Lena L. Obstetric brachial plexus palsy - A prospective, population-based study of incidence, recovery and long-term residual impairment at 10 to 12 years of age. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2019 Jan;23(1):87-93.
https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpn.2018.06.006
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30458977?tool=bestpractice.com
Os deficits de longo prazo mais comumente incluem restrição do movimento do ombro, contratura em flexão do cotovelo e redução na rotação do antebraço. É raro que a flexão ativa do cotovelo não se recupere bem.[91]Hems TEJ, Savaridas T, Sherlock DA. The natural history of recovery of elbow flexion after obstetric brachial plexus injury managed without nerve repair. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2017 Sep;42(7):706-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28627963?tool=bestpractice.com
[96]Pondaag W, Malessy MJA. Evidence that nerve surgery improves functional outcome for obstetric brachial plexus injury. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2021 Mar;46(3):229-36.
https://www.doi.org/10.1177/1753193420934676
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32588706?tool=bestpractice.com
A função da mão em crianças com paralisia global grave melhora após a cirurgia em 48% a 93%, dependendo da definição.[96]Pondaag W, Malessy MJA. Evidence that nerve surgery improves functional outcome for obstetric brachial plexus injury. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2021 Mar;46(3):229-36.
https://www.doi.org/10.1177/1753193420934676
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32588706?tool=bestpractice.com
Em muitas crianças, o membro afetado torna-se não dominante, mas atividades que requerem função bimanual podem ser afetadas.[96]Pondaag W, Malessy MJA. Evidence that nerve surgery improves functional outcome for obstetric brachial plexus injury. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2021 Mar;46(3):229-36.
https://www.doi.org/10.1177/1753193420934676
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32588706?tool=bestpractice.com
[164]Medeiros DL, Agostinho NB, Mochizuki L, et al. Quality of life and upper limb function of children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy. [in Portuguese]. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2020;38:e2018304.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7063594
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32159646?tool=bestpractice.com
Alguns adultos com LPBN são submetidos à artroplastia articular glenoumeral ou à artrodese.[165]Werthel JD, Schoch B, Frankle M, et al. Shoulder arthroplasty for sequelae of obstetrical brachial plexus injury. J Hand Surg Am. 2018 Sep;43(9):871.e1-871.e7.
https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2018.02.006
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29605518?tool=bestpractice.com
[166]Belkheyar Z, Belkacem Djeffel A, Cambon-Binder A. Glenohumeral fusion in adults with sequelae of obstetrical brachial plexus injury: a report of eight cases. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2019 Mar;44(3):248-55.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30466377?tool=bestpractice.com
A capacidade de longo prazo para realizar atividades da vida diária e a função geral são boas para a maioria dos pacientes, apesar dessas limitações.[110]Annika J, Paul U, Anna-Lena L. Obstetric brachial plexus palsy - A prospective, population-based study of incidence, recovery and long-term residual impairment at 10 to 12 years of age. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2019 Jan;23(1):87-93.
https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpn.2018.06.006
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30458977?tool=bestpractice.com
[167]Hulleberg G, Elvrum AK, Brandal M, et al. Outcome in adolescence of brachial plexus birth palsy. 69 individuals re-examined after 10–20 years. Acta Orthop. 2014 Dec;85(6):633-40.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4259022
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25238434?tool=bestpractice.com
[168]Butler L, Mills J, Richard HM, et al. Long-term follow-up of neonatal brachial plexopathy: psychological and physical function in adolescents and young adults. J Pediatr Orthop. 2017 Sep;37(6):e364-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28719549?tool=bestpractice.com
[169]Ploetze K, Goldfarb C, Roberts S, et al. Radiographic and clinical outcomes of the shoulder in long-term follow-up of brachial plexus birth injury. J Hand Surg Am. 2020 Dec;45(12):1115-22.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33289634?tool=bestpractice.com
Crianças que não apresentam recuperação total frequentemente têm comprometimentos de funções que requerem a modificação de atividades, tratamento contínuo ou intervenção cirúrgica; isso pode afetar a qualidade de vida.[170]Yau CWH, Pizzo E, Prajapati C, et al. Obstetric brachial plexus injuries (OBPIs): health-related quality of life in affected adults and parents. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2018 Nov 15;16(1):212.
https://www.doi.org/10.1186/s12955-018-1039-z
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30442125?tool=bestpractice.com
Alguns estudos encontraram saúde mental reduzida em crianças com LPBN, mas o autoconceito e o funcionamento social foram bons em um estudo.[164]Medeiros DL, Agostinho NB, Mochizuki L, et al. Quality of life and upper limb function of children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy. [in Portuguese]. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2020;38:e2018304.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7063594
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32159646?tool=bestpractice.com
[171]Mentrikoski JM, Duncan CL, Melanson A, et al. Factors related to the psychosocial functioning of youth with neonatal brachial plexus injuries. J Pediatr Psychol. 2015 Apr;40(3):285-96.
https://academic.oup.com/jpepsy/article/40/3/285/2580206?login=false
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25294841?tool=bestpractice.com
Além disso, litígios em curso relacionados a erro médico foram associados a uma piora na dor e na função relatada pelos pais.[172]Eismann EA, Bauer A, Kozin SH, et al. The relationship between medical malpractice litigation and parent reports of patient function following neonatal brachial plexus palsy. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2014 Mar 5;96(5):373-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24599198?tool=bestpractice.com