Botulinum Toxin Injection for Internal Rotation Contractures in Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy. A Minimum 5-Year Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Brachial plexus birth palsy is frequently associated with internal rotation contractures of the shoulder as a result of muscle imbalance. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection in the subscapular (SC) muscle on external rotation and the need for tendon transfer for external rotation of the shoulder. METHODS: A prospective comparative study was performed including 15 consecutive patients treated with BTX-A and a historic control group of 67 patients with mean age 30 months (SD 10). The BTX-A injection (2 IU/kg body weight) was performed immediately following MRI under general anesthesia in the SC muscle. Passive external rotation, the need for tendon transfer surgery, glenohumeral deformity, and muscle degeneration were evaluated. The hazard ratio for no relapse of internal rotation contracture after BTX-A injection compared with no BTX-A injection was calculated. RESULTS: In the BTX-A group, the passive external rotation in adduction increased from -1 degree (95% CI, -10 to 8) to 32 degrees (95% CI, 17-46) at 3 months and 6 patients were indicated for surgery compared with a decline from -2 degrees (95% CI, -7 to 3) to -11 degrees (95% CI, -17 to -6) in the control group with 66 indications for surgery. At 5 years of follow-up, 10 patients in the BTX-A group were indicated for surgery with a hazard ratio of 4.0 (95% CI, 1.9 to 8.4). CONCLUSIONS: BTX-A injection in the SC muscle of brachial plexus birth palsy patients can reduce internal rotation contractures and subsequently the need for tendon transfer surgery. At 5 years of follow-up a relapse was seen in 67% of the patients treated with BTX-A. Because at MRI less SC degeneration was found in the good responders on BTX-A treatment, this group seems to be the best target group. Further research is needed on patient selection for BTX-A injection including glenohumeral deformity, SC degeneration, as well as doses of BTX-A to be used. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II-prospective comparative study.

Health-related physical fitness of adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele.

To assess components of health-related physical fitness in adolescents and young adults with myelomeningocele (MMC), and to study relations between aerobic capacity and other health-related physical fitness components. This cross-sectional study included 50 adolescents and young adults with MMC, aged 16-30 years (25 males). Aerobic capacity was quantified by measuring peak oxygen uptake (peakVO2) during a maximal exercise test on a cycle or arm ergometer depending on the main mode of ambulation. Muscle strength of upper and lower extremity muscles was assessed using a hand-held dynamometer. Regarding flexibility, we assessed mobility of hip, knee and ankle joints. Body composition was assessed by measuring thickness of four skin-folds. Relations were studied using linear regression analyses. Average peakVO2 was 1.48+/-0.52 l/min, 61% of the participants had subnormal muscle strength, 61% had mobility restrictions in at least one joint and average sum of four skin-folds was 74.8+/-38.8 mm. PeakVO2 was significantly related to gender, ambulatory status and muscle strength, explaining 55% of its variance. Adolescents and young adults with MMC have poor health-related physical fitness. Gender and ambulatory status are important determinants of peakVO2. In addition, we found a small, but significant relationship between peakVO2 and muscle strength.

External rotation as a result of suprascapular nerve neurotization in obstetric brachial plexus lesions.

OBJECTIVE: Obstetric brachial plexus lesions may cause lifelong limitations of upper limb function. Nerve repair is widely advocated in infants who do not show spontaneous recovery. Typically, the suprascapular nerve (SSN) is involved in the lesion. Neurotization of the SSN routinely is performed, aiming at reinnervation of the infraspinatus muscle to restore external rotation. The results after SSN neurotization have not, as yet, been studied in detail; therefore, this study was undertaken. Of special interest was the comparison of two commonly applied SSN neurotization procedures: nerve grafting from C5 versus nerve transfer of the accessory nerve. METHODS: Infants with obstetric brachial plexus lesions after nerve grafting of C5 to the SSN (n = 65) or nerve transfer of the accessory nerve to the SSN (n = 21) were selected for retrospective analysis after a mean follow-up period of 3 years. Outcome was expressed in degrees of true glenohumeral external rotation. This was defined as the angle between the position of the 90 degrees (actively or passively) flexed elbow resting against the abdomen and the position of the flexed elbow after external rotation with the upper arm held in adduction by the investigator. This movement can be executed only by infraspinatus muscle contraction. In addition, functional external rotation was evaluated by testing the ability to reach the mouth and the back of the head. RESULTS: Only 17 (20%) of the 86 patients reached more than 20 degrees of external rotation, whereas 35 (41%) were unable to perform true external rotation. There was no statistically significant difference between nerve grafting from C5 and extraplexal nerve transfer using the accessory nerve. Functional scores showed that 88% can reach the mouth and that 75% can reach the head. CONCLUSION: The restoration of a fair range of true glenohumeral external rotation after neurotization of the SSN in infants with obstetric brachial plexus lesions, whether by grafting from C5 or by nerve transfer of the accessory nerve, is disappointingly low. However, it seems that compensatory techniques contribute to effectuate a considerable range of movement.