Shoulder function after medial approach and derotational humeral osteotomy in patients with brachial plexus birth palsy

Limited glenohumeral cross-body adduction in children with brachial plexus birth palsy: a contributor to scapular winging

BACKGROUND

Approximately 1 of every 1000 live births results in life-long impairments because of a brachial plexus injury. The long-term sequelae of persistent injuries include glenohumeral joint dysplasia and glenohumeral internal rotation and adduction contractures. Scapular winging is also common, and patients and their families often express concern regarding this observed scapular winging. It is difficult for clinicians to adequately address these concerns without a satisfying explanation for why scapular winging occurs in children with brachial plexus birth palsy. This study examined our proposed theory that a glenohumeral cross-body abduction contracture leads to the appearance of scapular winging in children with residual brachial plexus birth palsy.

METHODS

Sixteen children with brachial plexus injuries were enrolled in this study. Three-dimensional locations of markers placed on the thorax, scapula, and humerus were recorded in the hand to mouth Mallet position. The unaffected limbs served as a control. Scapulothoracic and glenohumeral cross-body adduction angles were compared between the affected and unaffected limbs.

RESULTS

The affected limbs demonstrated significantly greater scapulothoracic and significantly smaller glenohumeral cross-body adduction angles than the unaffected limbs. The affected limbs also exhibited a significantly lower glenohumeral cross-body adduction to scapulothoracic cross-body adduction ratio.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study support the theory that brachial plexus injuries can lead to a glenohumeral cross-body abduction contracture. Affected children demonstrated increased scapulothoracic cross-body adduction that is likely a compensatory mechanism because of decreased glenohumeral cross-body adduction. These findings are unique and better define the etiology of scapular winging in children with brachial plexus injuries. This information can be relayed to patients and their families when explaining the appearance of scapular winging.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

Glenohumeral abduction contracture in children with unresolved neonatal brachial plexus palsy

BACKGROUND

Following neonatal brachial plexus palsy, the Putti sign-obligatory tilt of the scapula with brachiothoracic adduction-suggests the presence of glenohumeral abduction contracture. In the present study, we utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantify this glenohumeral abduction contracture and evaluate its relationship to shoulder joint deformity, muscle atrophy, and function.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed MRIs of the thorax and shoulders obtained before and after shoulder rebalancing surgery (internal rotation contracture release and external rotation tendon transfer) for twenty-eight children with unresolved neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Two raters measured the coronal positions of the scapula, thoracic spine, and humeral shaft bilaterally on coronal images, correcting trigonometrically for scapular protraction on axial images. Supraspinatus, deltoid, and latissimus dorsi muscle atrophy was assessed, blinded to other measures. Correlations between glenohumeral abduction contracture and glenoid version, humeral head subluxation, passive external rotation, and Mallet shoulder function before and after surgery were performed.

RESULTS

MRI measurements were highly reliable between raters. Glenohumeral abduction contractures were present in twenty-five of twenty-eight patients, averaging 33° (range, 10° to 65°). Among those patients, abductor atrophy was present in twenty-three of twenty-five, with adductor atrophy in twelve of twenty-five. Preoperatively, greater abduction contracture severity correlated with greater Mallet global abduction and hand-to-neck function. Abduction contracture severity did not correlate preoperatively with axial measurements of glenohumeral dysplasia, but greater glenoid retroversion was associated with worse abduction contractures postoperatively. Surgery improved passive external rotation, active abduction, and hand-to-neck function, but did not change the abduction contracture.

CONCLUSIONS

A majority of patients with persistent shoulder weakness following neonatal brachial plexus palsy have glenohumeral abduction deformities, with contractures as severe as 65°. The abduction contracture occurs with abductor atrophy, with or without associated adductor atrophy. This contracture may improve global shoulder abduction by positioning the glenohumeral joint in abduction. Glenohumeral and scapulothoracic kinematics and muscle pathology must be further elucidated to advance an understanding of the etiology and the prevention and treatment of the complex shoulder deformity following neonatal brachial plexus palsy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Triangle tilt and humeral surgery: Meta-analysis of efficacy and functional outcome

AIM: To systematically review and analyze the overall impact and effectiveness of bony surgical procedures, the triangle tilt and humeral surgery in a comparative manner in permanent obstetric brachial plexus injury (OBPI) patients.

METHODS: We conducted a literature search and identified original full research articles of OBPI patients treated with a secondary bony surgery, particularly addressing the limitation of shoulder abduction and functions. Further, we analyzed and compared the efficacy and the surgical outcomes of 9 humeral surgery papers with 179 patients, and 4 of our secondary bony procedure, the triangle tilt surgical papers with 86 patients.

RESULTS: Seven hundred and thirty-one articles were identified, using the search term “brachial plexus” and obstetric or pediatric (246 articles) or neonatal (219 articles) or congenital (188 articles) or “birth palsy” (121 articles). Further, only a few articles were identified using the bony surgery search, osteotomy “brachial plexus” obstetric (35), “humeral osteotomy” and “brachial plexus” (17), and triangle tilt “brachial plexus” (14). Of all, 12 studies reporting pre- and post- operative or improvement in total Mallet functional score were included in this study. Among these, 9 studies reported the humeral surgery and 4 were triangle tilt surgery. We used modified total Mallet functional score in this analysis. Various studies with humeral surgery showed improvement of 1.4, 2.3, 5.0 and 5.6 total Mallet score, whereas the triangle tilt surgery showed improvement of 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.2.

CONCLUSION: The triangle tilt surgery improves on what was achieved by humeral osteotomy in the management of shoulder function in OBPI patients.

Humeral rotational osteotomy for shoulder deformity in obstetric brachial plexus palsy: which direction should I rotate?

Shoulder internal rotation contracture is the most common deformity affecting the shoulder in patients with Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy. With progression of the deformity, the glenohumeral joint starts to subluxate and then dislocates. This is accompanied with bony changes of both the humerus and the glenoid. Two opposite direction humeral osteotomies have been proposed for this condition (internal rotation osteotomy (IRO) and external rotation osteotomy (ERO)). This fact of different direction osteotomies has not adequately been explained in the literature. Most orthopedic surgeons may not be able to fully differentiate between these two osteotomies regarding the indications, outcomes and effects on the joint. This review explains these differences in details.

Three-dimensional humeral morphologic alterations and atrophy associated with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy

BACKGROUND

Obstetrical brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) is a common birth injury, resulting in severe functional losses. Yet, little is known about how OBPP affects the 3-dimensional (3D) humeral morphology. Thus, the purpose of this study was to measure the 3D humeral architecture in children with unilateral OBPP.

METHODS

Thirteen individuals (4 female and 9 male patients; mean age, 11.8 ± 3.3 years; mean Mallet score, 15.1 ± 3.0) participated in this institutional review board approved study. A 3D T1-weighted gradient-recalled echo magnetic resonance image set was acquired for both upper limbs (involved and noninvolved). Humeral size, version, and inclination were quantified from 3D humeral models derived from these images.

RESULTS

The involved humeral head was significantly less retroverted and in declination (medial humeral head pointed anteriorly and inferiorly) relative to the noninvolved side. Osseous atrophy was present in all 3 dimensions and affected the entire humerus. The inter-rater reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.96-1.00).

DISCUSSION

This study showed that both humeral atrophy and bone shape deformities associated with OBPP are not limited to the axial plane but are 3D phenomena. Incorporating information related to these multi-planar, 3D humeral deformities into surgical planning could potentially improve functional outcomes after surgery. The documented reduction in retroversion is an osseous adaptation, which may help maintain glenohumeral congruency by partially compensating for the internal rotation of the arm. The humeral head declination is a novel finding and may be an important factor to consider when one is developing OBPP management strategies because it has been shown to lead to significant supraspinatus inefficiencies and increased required elevation forces.

Evaluation and management of brachial plexus birth palsy

Brachial plexus birth palsy can result in permanent lifelong deficits and unfortunately continues to be relatively common despite advancements in obstetric care. The diagnosis can be made shortly after birth by physical examination, noting a lack of movement in the affected upper extremity. Treatment begins with passive range-of-motion exercises to maintain flexibility and tactile stimulation to provide sensory reeducation. Primary surgery consists of microsurgical nerve surgery, whereas secondary surgery consists of alternative microsurgical procedures, tendon transfers, or osteotomies, all of which improve outcomes in the short term. However, the long-term outcomes of current treatment recommendations remain unknown.

Geometrical adaptation in ulna and radius of cerebral palsy patients: measures and consequences

BACKGROUND

The presence of significant forearm bone torsion might affect planning and evaluating treatment regimes in cerebral palsy patients. We aimed to evaluate the influence of longstanding wrist flexion, ulnar deviation, and forearm pronation due to spasticity on the bone geometries of radius and ulna. Furthermore, we aimed to model the hypothetical influence of these deformities on potential maximal moment balance for forearm rotation.

METHODS

Geometrical measures were determined in hemiplegic cerebral palsy patients (n=5) and healthy controls (n=5). Bilateral differences between the spastic arm and the unaffected side were compared to bilateral differences between the dominant and non-dominant side in the healthy controls. Hypothetical effects of bone torsion on potential maximal forearm rotation moment were calculated using an existing anatomical muscle model.

FINDINGS

Patients showed significantly smaller (radius: 41.6%; ulna: 32.9%) and shorter (radius: 9.1%; ulna: 8.4%) forearm bones in the non-dominant arm than in the dominant arm compared to controls (radius: 2.4%; ulna 2.5% and radius: 1.5%; ulna: 1.0% respectively). Furthermore, patients showed a significantly higher torsion angle difference (radius: 24.1°; ulna: 26.2°) in both forearm bones between arms than controls (radius: 2.0°; ulna 1.0°). The model predicted an approximate decrease of 30% of potential maximal supination moment as a consequence of bone torsion.

INTERPRETATION

Torsion in the bones of the spastic forearm is likely to influence potential maximal moment balance and thus forearm rotation function. In clinical practice, bone torsion should be considered when evaluating movement limitations especially in children with longstanding spasticity of the upper extremity.

Muscle transfers in children and adults improve external rotation in cases of obstetrical brachial plexus paralysis: a comparative study

PURPOSE

Latissimus dorsi and teres major transfers to the lateral side of the humerus with lengthening of the pectoralis major and subscapularis muscles for residual shoulder deformity were compared in children and skeletally mature patients.

METHODS

Fifteen patients (nine children, six skeletally mature patients aged three to 30 years, follow-up one to 22 years) were treated for internal shoulder contracture after birth plexus lesions: C5-C6 (seven patients); C5-7 (five patients); C5-C8-T1 (three patients, respectively). Range of movement, Mallet shoulder function score and radiographs were assessed.

RESULTS

Pre-operatively, shoulder function restrictions were comparable in all patients. Postoperatively, external rotation, abduction and Mallet function score improved significantly (p < 0.05) in all patients except one. There were no differences in improvement between children and skeletally mature patients (p = 0.24-1.0).

CONCLUSIONS

This technique improves external rotation and abduction of the shoulder for daily living activities in children and young, skeletally mature, patients.

Evaluating the acromion marker cluster as a method for measuring scapular orientation in children with brachial plexus birth palsy

Several studies have described using an acromion marker cluster for measuring scapular orientation in healthy adults performing planar motions. It is unknown whether the acromion marker cluster method will provide the same level of accuracy in children with brachial plexus birth palsy. This study compared this method to palpation for calculating scapular orientation in children with brachial plexus birth palsy performing clinically relevant movements. Scapular orientation in ten patients was determined by palpation and an acromion marker cluster in neutral and six Modified Mallet positions. RMSEs and mean relative errors were calculated. Resultant RMSEs ranged from 5.2 degrees to 21.4 degrees. The averages of the mean relative errors across all positions for each axis were 177.4% for upward/downward rotation, 865.0% for internal/external rotation, and 166.2% for anterior/posterior tilt. The acromion marker cluster method did not accurately measure scapular rotation relative to the total movement on an individual or group basis in the population. With most relative errors over 100%, the acromion marker cluster method often produced errors larger than the actual measured motion. The accuracy of the acromion marker cluster method limits its use as a clinical tool for measuring scapular kinematics on children with brachial plexus birth palsy.

Scapulothoracic and glenohumeral contributions to motion in children with brachial plexus birth palsy

BACKGROUND

Brachial plexus birth palsy occurs in 0.4 to 4.6 of every 1000 live births, with residual shoulder dysfunction in approximately one third of cases. Clinical measures, such as the Mallet classification, provide no insight into the scapulothoracic and glenohumeral contributions to tested global shoulder movements. This study describes the scapulothoracic and glenohumeral components of shoulder motion during the modified Mallet test.

METHODS

Twelve children with Erb's palsy (C5-6) and 8 children with extended Erb's palsy (C5-7) were recruited. The unaffected limbs of 6 subjects were also tested. Locations of markers placed on the thorax, humerus, and scapula were recorded in a neutral position and each of the modified Mallet positions. Scapulothoracic, glenohumeral, and humerothoracic helical displacements and acromion process linear displacements were compared between groups.

RESULTS

The brachial plexus birth palsy groups exhibited significantly smaller glenohumeral displacements in all modified Mallet positions and significantly larger scapulothoracic displacements in the global external rotation and hand to mouth positions. Discriminant function analysis using only humerothoracic variables correctly classified 76.9% of subjects. Discriminant function analysis incorporating scapulothoracic, glenohumeral, and acromion process displacement variables produced accuracy of 92.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with brachial plexus birth palsy demonstrated decreased glenohumeral contributions to achieve every modified Mallet position and increased scapulothoracic contribution in two positions compared with the unaffected group. Different scapulothoracic and glenohumeral strategies were identified between groups. Finally, scapulothoracic and glenohumeral components of shoulder motion are more specific than humerothoracic measures to diagnostic classification.

Management of Shoulder Problems Following Obstetric Brachial Plexus Injury

Obstetric brachial plexus injuries are common, with an incidence of 0.42 per 1000 live births in the UK, and with 25% of patients being left with permanent disability without intervention. The shoulder is the most commonly affected joint and, as a result of the subsequent imbalance of musculature, the abnormal deforming forces cause dysplasia of the glenohumeral joint. In the growing child, this presents with changing pattern of pathology, which requires a multidisciplinary approach and a broad range of treatment modalities to optimize function.

Meta-analysis of function after secondary shoulder surgery in neonatal brachial plexus palsy

BACKGROUND

Shoulder internal rotation contracture, active abduction, and external rotation deficits are common secondary problems in neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP). Soft tissue shoulder operations are often utilized for treatment. The objective was to conduct a meta-analysis and systematic review analyzing the clinical outcomes of NBPP treated with a secondary soft-tissue shoulder operation.

METHODS

A literature search identified studies of NBPP treated with a soft-tissue shoulder operation. A meta-analysis evaluated success rates for the aggregate Mallet score (≥ 4 point increase), global abduction score (≥ 1 point increase), and external rotation score (≥ 1 point increase) using the Mallet scale. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess these success rates when the author chose arthroscopic release technique versus open release technique with or without tendon transfer.

RESULTS

Data from 17 studies and 405 patients were pooled for meta-analysis. The success rate for the global abduction score was significantly higher for the open technique (67.4%) relative to the arthroscopic technique (27.7%, P<0.0001). The success rates for the global abduction score were significantly different among sexes (P=0.01). The success rate for external rotation was not significantly different between the open (71.4%) and arthroscopic techniques (74.1%, P=0.86). No other variable was found to have significant impact on the external rotation outcomes. The success rate for the aggregate Mallet score was 57.9% for the open technique, a nonsignificant increase relative to the arthroscopic technique (53.5%, P=0.63). Data suggest a correlation between increasing age at the time of surgery and a decreasing likelihood of success with regards to aggregate Mallet with an odds ratio of 0.98 (P=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the secondary soft-tissue shoulder operation is an effective treatment for improving shoulder function in NBPP in appropriately selected patients. The open technique had significantly higher success rates in improving global abduction. There were no significant differences in the success rates for improvement in the external rotation or aggregate Mallet score among these surgical techniques.

Combined glenoid anteversion osteotomy and tendon transfers for brachial plexus birth palsy: early outcomes

BACKGROUND

In the setting of severe glenohumeral dysplasia secondary to brachial plexus birth palsy, external rotation osteotomy of the humerus has traditionally been used to transpose the existing arc of shoulder motion to a more functional position. Here we introduce a surgical alternative, the aim of which is to gain stable reduction of the shoulder and restore active external rotation.

METHODS

All patients with brachial plexus birth palsy and Waters type-III, IV, or V glenohumeral dysplasia who underwent glenoid anteversion osteotomy combined with tendon transfers between 2006 and 2009 were identified. The Mallet score, Active Movement Scale, and active and passive ranges of motion were used to assess functional outcomes. Axial imaging was used to measure glenoid version, the degree of subluxation, and the Waters type.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients with a median age of 6.8 years (range, 2.1 to 16.2 years) were followed for a mean of twenty months (range, twelve to twenty-nine months). On average, passive external rotation with the shoulder in neutral increased by 43° (95% confidence interval [CI], 26° to 60°), passive internal rotation decreased by 22° (95% CI, 12° to 31°), active external rotation with the shoulder in neutral increased by 82° (95% CI, 66° to 98°), and active internal rotation decreased by 26° (95% CI, 14° to 38°). The aggregate Mallet score improved by a mean of 4.0 points (95% CI, 3.0 to 4.9). Glenoid retroversion improved by a mean of 26° (95% CI, 20° to 32°). The percentage of the humeral head anterior to the midscapular line improved by a mean of 35% (95% CI, 30% to 40%).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with severe glenohumeral dysplasia, glenoid realignment osteotomy in conjunction with soft-tissue rebalancing permits maintenance of joint reduction and functional improvement in the short term. In our view, external rotation osteotomy of the humerus is no longer the only surgical option for these cases.

The evaluation and treatment of children with brachial plexus birth palsy

The Andrew J. Weiland Medal is presented by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand to a mid-career researcher dedicated to advancing patient care in the field of hand surgery. The Weiland Medal for 2010 was presented to the author at the annual meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. The purpose of this article is to present a decade of research directed at establishing and building evidence in support of effective treatment of adolescents and children impaired by nerve injury. The primary beneficiaries of this effort are children affected by brachial plexus injury. The research goals have been to better understand their underlying problems, improve their lives via advanced diagnostic and surgical techniques, and, by applying appropriate outcome measures, better appreciate the changes to their lives brought about by therapeutic interventions.