Faculty Bibliography

Over a 5-year-period, 26 infants underwent a partial transfer of the spinal accessory nerve into the suprascapular nerve using a nerve graft, as part of the repair of a brachial plexus birth injury. At a minimum follow-up of 2.5 years, all children had shoulder function of Grade 4 or better using a modified Gilbert Scale. Average lateral rotation was measured at 53 degrees

Ninety-one infants who sustained a brachial plexus birth injury were treated with only physical and occupational therapy. The children were evaluated at 3-month intervals and followed for a minimum of 2 years. Sixty-three children with an upper or upper-middle plexus injury recovered good to excellent shoulder and hand function. In all of these children, critical marker muscles recovered M4 by 6 months of age. Twelve infants sustained a global palsy, with critical marker muscles remaining at M0-M1 at 6 months, resulting in a useless extremity. Sixteen infants with upper and upper-middle plexus injuries failed to recover greater than M1-M2 deltoid and biceps by 6 months, resulting in a very poor final outcome. These data provide useful guidelines for selection of infants for surgical reconstruction to improve ultimate outcome

Of 22 infants aged between 11 and 29 months who underwent a combined reconstruction of the upper brachial plexus and shoulder for the sequelae of a birth injury, 19 were followed up for two or more years. The results were evaluated using a modified Gilbert scale. Three patients required a secondary procedure before follow-up. Three patients had a persistent minor internal rotation contracture. All improved by at least two grades on a modified Gilbert scale

This report details the complications experienced during 100 consecutive cases of brachial plexus surgery in infants. There were eight perioperative complications. There was no mortality or permanent sequelae from any complication

Seven children were operated on for pronation contractures of the forearm due to obstetric brachial plexus injuries. All underwent extensive preoperative evaluations to determine the extent of injury, secondary deformities, and capacity to perform a few basic tasks. Sequential video studies were used to document these findings. Operative procedures performed included various combinations of tendon/muscle lengthenings and/or transfers. Postoperative evaluations focused on function rather than gains in active range of motion and the patient/parental assessment of the benefit of the procedure by response to a questionnaire. All patients were followed for a minimum of I year following surgery. The average gain in active supination was 45 degrees. Each patient showed significant functional gains with a high degree of satisfaction

This article provides an overview of the historical perspectives of shoulder deformity. Biomechanical considerations are discussed, as well as the authors' personal approach to these types of injuries

Patterns of muscle degeneration in patients with peripheral neuropathies exhibiting pes cavus deformity were studied by computed tomography (CT). Twenty-six patients attending the muscle disease clinic at Newington Children's Hospital with hereditary sensory motor neuropathies (HSMN) I, II, or III had clinical and radiographic assessment in addition to CT scans of the feet and legs at designated levels. The pattern of muscle degeneration was analyzed with other variables, including age, sex, tibial torsion, cavus, heel varus, and claw toes. Multiple regression/correlation analysis clearly demonstrated earlier and more severe involvement of the intrinsic muscles of the foot as compared with the extrinsic muscles. The most consistent early degeneration occurred in the pedal lumbricals and interossei, which have the most distal innervation. The order of muscle degeneration is a centripetal pattern, with two types of degeneration occurring in the leg muscles: type P patients had earlier degeneration of the leg muscles innervated by the peroneal nerve, and type T patients showed earlier degeneration of those extrinsics innervated by the posterior tibial nerve

Displaced supracondylar fractures in children are best treated with anatomic reduction and percutaneous fixation. Flynn et al first described the pediatric application of a simple holding bracket to facilitate reduction and percutaneous pinning of supracondylar fractures. A similar bracket can be easily constructed with connecting rods and clamps from a Hoffman or an AO external fixator tray

A 22-year-old male sustained a gunshot injury to the left hip region. The bullet lodged in the articular surface of the femoral head posterosuperomedially. The location of the bullet within the hip joint stimulated the performance of an arthroscopy of the hip through a posterior approach. The authors are unaware of any other report in the literature describing such an approach. To minimize the dangers, a limited posterior incision was made and deepened through the short rotators. The arthroscope was introduced through the incision to perforate the posteroinferior portion of the hip joint capsule. The bullet was easily visualized with a 70 degree arthroscope. Positioning at the joint and traction are vital components to visualization. The use of three-dimensional CT scanning is an aid to the graphic understanding of the bullet's pathway and relations to the surfaces of the hip joint