Long-term results of low rotation humeral osteotomy in children with Erb's obstetric brachial plexus palsy.

Full Abstract

Seventeen children with Erb's (C5/6 and C5/6/7 types) obstetric brachial plexus palsy who underwent low rotation humeral osteotomy to treat internal rotation contracture of the shoulder were recalled back to the clinic at a mean of 10 (range 8-14) years after surgery. Eight were male and nine female with mean age of 16 (range 13-20) years. The osteotomy procedure was done at a mean age of 6 (range 5-8) years. Preoperative, early postoperative, and late postoperative motor assessments were compared. There was no recurrence of the internal rotation posturing of the shoulder and there was maintenance of the improvements in elbow extension deficit and forearm rotation. The most surprising finding was a significant (P = 0.003) decrease in shoulder abduction on long-term follow-up (the mean shoulder abduction was 135 degrees , 146 degrees and 109 degrees measured pre-, early post- and late postoperatively, respectively). There was no correlation between changes in shoulder abduction and the radiological score of the shoulder.

Author information

Author/s: Al-Qattan, M M (MM); Al-Husainan, H (H); Al-Otaibi, A (A); El-Sharkawy, M S (MS);

Affiliation: Department of Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. moqattan(-atsign-)hotmail.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The Journal of hand surgery, European volume (J Hand Surg Eur Vol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 34 (issue 4) : pp 486-92

Dates: Created 2009/08/13; Completed 2009/10/28;

PMID: 19675029, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/28/2009, IMS Date: )

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