[Congenital brachial palsy: its epidemiology and sequelae. A retrospective study of our case mix]

AIM

To conduct a retrospective study of cases of congenital brachial palsy, focusing on its incidence, clinical manifestations and long-term course.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A systematized study of all the cases of congenital brachial palsy detected in the Hospital La Paz between January 1994 and December 2003 was carried out with the aim of recording data on the pregnancy, gestational age, type of delivery, presentation, sex and weight at birth, Apgar test and the arterial pH of the umbilical cord. It also sought to estimate the type of brachial palsy, the side that was affected, electromyographic findings, associated insults, treatment and progress.

RESULTS

Congenital brachial palsy was diagnosed in 48 patients. All the children, except one, were born full term and in over half the cases (54.1%) weight at birth was above average. In 43 cases presentation was cephalic and in the other 5 it was footling. Twenty-nine cases (60.5%) were classified as mild, 12 were moderate (25%) and 7 were severe (14.5%). Electromyogram studies were carried out in 19 patients (39.5%) and the following insults were found: severe axonotmesis in the 7 severe patients, moderate axonotmesis in the 10 moderate patients, and neuroapraxia and mild axonotmesis in the 2 mild patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of congenital brachial palsy in our hospital was 0.6 cases/1000 births/year. Proximal brachial palsy was the commonest disorder, although in most cases patients were only mildly affected and were free of sequelae when discharged. Functional limitations persisted, however, in 36.6% of the cases despite treatment being established at an early stage.

[Atrophy of the cervical spinal cord as a consequence of a prenatal ischemic infarct]

INTRODUCTION

Spinal cord injuries in newborn infants following a traumatic delivery are well known, but occasionally cord damage is appreciated in children whose birth did not involve any complications; in some of them there has been proof of an ischemic process that originated inside the uterus.

CASE REPORT

We describe the case of a newborn female with atrophy of the cervical spinal cord compatible with an intrauterine ischemic infarct. It extended to the C4-C6 territory of the anterior spinal artery, with greater participation on the left side. Clinical symptoms were apparent from the moment of birth and took the form of an asymmetric pseudoarthrogryposis in the upper limbs. The left arm was held in abduction at the height of the shoulder, with complete flexion of the elbow and the hand at the height of the chin was hypotonic, inactive and hypotrophic; the right arm was extended and in adduction. The patient presented episodes of hyperthermia that remitted on cooling the body.

CONCLUSIONS

When faced with a newborn infant with symptoms that are compatible with chronic cervical spinal cord damage and in the absence of any perinatal traumatic injury, other causes, including prenatal ischemic infarct, must be taken into account.

[Is benign childhood paroxysmal eye deviation a non-epileptic disorder?]

INTRODUCTION

Benign childhood paroxysmal eye deviation (BCPED) is classified as a 'non-epileptic paroxysmal disorder'.

CASE REPORTS

We report the cases of four patients aged between 6 months and 2 years, who suffered brief episodes of upward conjugate gaze deviation, with no clonic movements or associated cognitive deterioration. These episodes, which lasted several seconds, appeared in short repeated bouts that became worse with fatigue. Results of the neurological exploration, laboratory examinations, neuroimaging (CAT, MRI, brain ultrasonography) and a neurophysiological study, which included EEG-video monitoring and EEG performed during the waking state, were all normal. A nocturnal polysomnographic study was later conducted for 7-8 hours and EEG, EMG and EOG readings were recorded. The trace showed focal or generalised paroxysmal discharges during non-REM sleep in the form of polyspike-wave and spike-wave complexes. Sleep analysis (Reschstaffen and Kales) showed only a shortened REM sleep latency, with no clear clinical meaning. Several cases have been reported in the literature with identical symptoms and normal results in the diagnostic tests, including daytime polysomnography.

CONCLUSIONS

The appearance of these epileptic anomalies in the nocturnal study makes it necessary to perform a complete nocturnal polysomnography. In spite of these findings, BCPED courses favourably and has a benign prognosis both with and without antiepileptic treatment. We therefore believe that BCPED should be classed within the group of 'benign idiopathic epilepsies of childhood'.