Maryland BPI Specialists/Clinics

Allan Belzberg, MD, FRCSC


Response to UBPN questionnaire:
NOTE: Only questions answered are included here

When was your Brachial Plexus Injury Clinic established?

Clinic established in 1992.
Identify what specialties related to brachial plexus injuries are represented by practitioners working in your clinic including physical/occupational therapists, if any.

Specialties Represented (Adult & Pediatric): Neurology, Neurosurgery, Plastic surgery, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation Medicine, Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, Pain Medicine, Psychology, Neuro-Radiology.

I do both adult (traumatic) and pediatric (traumatic and birth injury). I would say we are almost evenly split with adult and pediatric but it is less common for the children to need surgery. Further, although I tend to screen the patients, we are a sizable group as indicated by the various specialties. Depending on the nature of the problem the patient will be set up to see the most appropriate physician first.....this may be a hand surgeon, neurologist, therapist etc.
What do you/your clinic specialize in treating?

Adult and Pediatric Nerve Injuries
Indicate the total number of brachial plexus patients you/your clinic has evaluated since your establishment:

Total cases managed (adult and pediatric combined):
greater than 1000
State your philosophy regarding evaluation, referral and treatment of brachial plexus injuries.

The Johns Hopkins Hospital is dedicated to:
  1. Patient care
  2. Education
  3. Research
Our peripheral nerve clinic strives to provide the best possible care to the patient and family. The medical management includes a Holistic approach addressing the well being of the patient, both physical and mental. The participating medical staff are actively involved in ongoing research efforts directed at understanding the peripheral nervous system in disease and health. Many of the faculty run sponsored laboratory efforts funded by national organizations including the NIH. A primary focus is looking at the regeneration/healing of nerves and how better to treat nerve injury. The faculty routinely publish their work in peer reviewed journals, and speak around the world at medical conventions. Patients with peripheral nerve problems come from all over the world to be treated at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, ranked the #1 US Hospital each year for the past 10 years (US World News). Travel arrangements are routine. The medical staff are all full time employees of The Johns Hopkins University/Hospital, and as such, do not have any financial interest in the care delivered to the patients.
State your philosophy regarding pain management and brachial plexus injuries.

As to pain, Hopkins has one of the largest multi-disciplinary groups in the world. My own expertise in the use of the DREZ came from Singapore.
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