Faculty Bibliography

Children with brachial plexus birth injuries often require tendon transfer to restore active wrist extension and maximize hand function. The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical results in children with brachial plexus birth injuries after tendon transfer to reconstruct active wrist extension. Over a 10-year period, 21 children (11 male, 10 female) underwent tendon transfer to reconstruct active wrist extension by a single surgeon. Eight patients had C5/C6/C7 injury and 13 patients had global palsy (C5-T1). The average age at surgery was 5.5 years (range, 3 to 8 y). Restoration of wrist extension was measured according to the functional scale of Duclos and Gilbert. The mean duration of follow-up was 36 months (minimum follow-up of 1 y). At latest follow-up, 14 (66%) children (C5/C6/C7, n=8; global, n=6) demonstrated active wrist extension >/=30 degrees. Within the global injury subcohort, 3 patients demonstrated static extension of the wrist. Four failures occurred in the global palsy group. Children with absent active wrist extension after a brachial plexus birth injury can benefit from a tendon transfer. The more severe global palsy cases have a worse outcome

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) convened an international working group to obtain a consensus definition of disease flare in lupus. With help from the Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO), two web-based Delphi surveys of physicians were conducted. Subsequently, the LFA held a second consensus conference followed by a third Delphi survey to reach a community-wide agreement for flare definition. Sixty-nine of the 120 (57.5%) polled physicians responded to the first survey. Fifty-nine of the responses were available to draft 12 preliminary statements, which were circulated in the second survey. Eighty-seven of 118 (74%) physicians completed the second survey, with an agreement of 70% for 9/12 (75%) statements. During the second conference, three alternative flare definitions were consolidated and sent back to the international community. One hundred and sixteen of 146 (79.5%) responded, with agreement by 71/116 (61%) for the following definition: 'A flare is a measurable increase in disease activity in one or more organ systems involving new or worse clinical signs and symptoms and/or laboratory measurements. It must be considered clinically significant by the assessor and usually there would be at least consideration of a change or an increase in treatment.' The LFA proposes this definition for lupus flare on the basis of its high face validity

We present two children with hypoplasia of the left trapezius muscle and a history of ipsilateral transient neonatal brachial plexus palsy without documented trapezius weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging in these patients with unilateral left hypoplasia of the trapezius revealed decreased muscles in the left side of the neck and left supraclavicular region on coronal views, decreased muscle mass between the left splenius capitis muscle and the subcutaneous tissue at the level of the neck on axial views, and decreased size of the left paraspinal region on sagittal views. Three possibilities can explain the association of hypoplasia of the trapezius and obstetric brachial plexus palsy: increased vulnerability of the brachial plexus to stretch injury during delivery because of intrauterine trapezius weakness, a casual association of these two conditions, or an erroneous diagnosis of brachial plexus palsy in patients with trapezial weakness. Careful documentation of neck and shoulder movements can distinguish among shoulder weakness because of trapezius hypoplasia, brachial plexus palsy, or brachial plexus palsy with trapezius hypoplasia. Hence, we recommend precise documentation of neck movements in the initial description of patients with suspected neonatal brachial plexus palsy

Shoulder deformity remains the most common musculo-skeletal sequela following a brachial plexus birth injury. The natural history of untreated glenohumeral deformity is one of progression in this unique patient population. In infants and young children with persistent neurological deficits, shoulder dysfunction becomes a major source of morbidity, as these children have extreme difficulty placing the hand in space. The functional limitations due to muscle denervation and the resultant periarticular soft tissue contractures and progressive osseous deformities have been well-characterized. Increasing attention is being given to the glenohumeral dysplasia (GHD) and the associated prevalence of early posterior dislocation of the shoulder in infants with brachial plexus birth injuries. GHD represents a spectrum of findings, including glenoid and humeral head articular incongruities and dysplasia, subluxation, and frank dislocation. This article presents our comprehensive, temporally-based management strategies for the glenohumeral joint deformities in these children utilizing soft tissue and bony reconstructive procedures

We present a rare case of persistent complete posterior interosseous nerve palsy associated with a chronic type I Monteggia elbow fracture-dislocation consisting of anterior dislocation of the radial head and malunion of the ulna in an 8-year-old child requiring surgical treatment. Posterior interosseous nerve neuropraxia following acute Monteggia injury patterns about the elbow has been described and is thought to be secondary to traction or direct trauma. The condition typically resolves following successful closed reduction of the radial head. This report describes combined treatment of the nerve and skeletal injury for the chronic type I Monteggia injury. The literature is reviewed, and diagnostic challenges with and treatment options for chronic Monteggia fracture-dislocations in children are discussed

Since the description by Smellie in 1764, in a French midwifery text, that first suggested an obstetric origin for upper limb birth palsy, great strides have been made in both diagnosis and early and late treatment. This report presents an overview of selected aspects of this complex and extensive subject. Early treatment options are reviewed in the context of the present controversies regarding the natural history and the indications for and timing of microsurgical intervention in infants with brachial plexus birth injuries

We report 2 patients with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy, ipsilateral leg weakness, and contralateral motor cortical dysplasia. To our knowledge, this is the first description of such an association. In both cases, the diagnosis of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy was established clinically shortly after birth and later confirmed neurophysiologically. Motor cortex dysplasia was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The association of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy and contralateral motor cortex dysplasia, a condition known to produce congenital hemiparesis, raises the possibility that the cortical dysplasia was a predisposing factor for obstetrical brachial plexus palsy in these cases

Injury to the spinal accessory nerve in the posterior triangle of the neck results in trapezius paralysis and shoulder dysfunction. The most common etiology is iatrogenic and has been reported extensively in adults. We report 3 cases of spinal accessory nerve injury recognized postoperatively in children and discuss the microsurgical treatment, results, and simple strategies to avoid this complication.

The authors report a 7-day-old girl born with a hemangioma involving the right side of the scalp and neck who developed ipsilateral brachial plexus palsy at 5 days of age. Imaging studies confirmed the presence of a cavernous hemangioma in the vicinity of the brachial plexus. She was treated with intravenous corticosteroids and her palsy resolved in 5 days. Only 1 prior case of hemangioma producing brachial plexus palsy has been reported; this patient was not treated with corticosteroids and had a partial recovery. The authors believe that the quick recovery after initiating systemic steroids was due to relief of nerve compression (neuropraxia) resulting from shrinkage of the cavernous hemangioma. The purpose of this article is to describe an uncommon cause of neonatal brachial plexus palsy and to report the effectiveness of early intravenous corticosteroid treatment in a patient with brachial plexus palsy due to a cavernous hemangioma.