Sensibility of the Hand in Children With Conservatively or Surgically Treated Upper Neonatal Brachial Plexus Lesion

Brachial plexus birth injury: advances and controversies

While there is considerable spontaneous recovery in most cases of brachial plexus birth injury, many children are left with significant problems that may lead to lifelong functional limitations, loss of work and social isolation. Detailed treatment with the right strategy can provide very valuable improvement in function. Over the past few years, the clinical approach to brachial plexus birth palsy has entered a new era in both diagnostic and surgical treatment methods. This article reviews four areas of management, the role of imaging in defining the severity of the injury, the optimal timing of for nerve exploration and reconstruction in appropriate cases, the advantages and potential complications of nerve transfers, and the role of physiotherapy. Available evidence is considered. Although it is difficult to make clear and precise inferences on a subject where there are many variables and considerable uncertainties, some currently accepted views will be summarized.Level of evidence: V.

Recent Advances in the Treatment of Brachial Plexus Birth Injury

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Describe methods of clinical evaluation for neurologic recovery in brachial plexus birth injury. 2. Understand the role of different diagnostic imaging modalities to evaluate the upper limb. 3. List nonsurgical strategies and surgical procedures to manage shoulder abnormality. 4. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of microsurgical nerve reconstruction and distal nerve transfers in brachial plexus birth injury. 5. Recognize the prevalence of pain in this population and the need for greater sensory outcomes evaluation.

SUMMARY

Brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) results from closed traction injury to the brachial plexus in the neck during an infant's vertex passage through the birth canal. Although spontaneous upper limb recovery occurs in most instances of BPBI, some infants do not demonstrate adequate motor recovery within an acceptable timeline and require surgical intervention to restore upper limb function. This article reviews major advances in the management of BPBI in the past decade that include improved understanding of shoulder pathology and its impact on observed motor recovery, novel surgical techniques, new insights in sensory function and pain, and global efforts to develop standardized outcomes assessment scales.

Tactile Perception of the Hand in Children With an Upper Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate factors that cause impairment of hand function in children with an upper Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy (NBPP), we performed an in-depth analysis of tactile hand sensibility, especially the ability to correctly localize a sensory stimulus on their fingers.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional investigation of children with NBPP, compared with healthy controls. The thickest Semmes-Weinstein (SW) monofilament was pressed on the radial or ulnar part of each fingertip (10 regions), while a screen prevented seeing the hand.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center for nerve lesions in an academic hospital in The Netherlands. The control group was recruited at their school.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty-one children with NBPP (mean age 10.0 y) and 25 controls (mean age 9.5 y; N=41).

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

Correct localization of the applied stimuli was evaluated, per region, per finger, and per dermatome with a test score. The affected side of the NBPP group was compared with the non-dominant hand of the controls.

RESULTS

The ability to localize stimuli on the tips of the fingers in children with an upper NBPP was significantly diminished in all fingers, except for the little finger, as compared with healthy controls. Mean localization scores were 6.6 (thumb) and 6.3 (index finger) in the NBPP group and 7.6 in both fingers for controls (maximum score possible is 8.0). Localization scores were significant lower in regions attributed to dermatomes C6 (P<.001) and C7 (P=.001), but not to C8 (P=.115).

CONCLUSION

Children with an upper NBPP showed a diminished and incorrect ability to localize sensory stimuli to their fingers. This finding is likely 1 of the factors underlying the impairment of hand function and should be addressed with sensory focused therapy.

Self-biting behavior in patients with neonatal brachial plexus palsy

PURPOSE

Self-biting behavior in patients with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) has been associated with finger amputation. Our objective is to describe the incidence of this complication, risk factors, and clinical management.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 612 patients with NBPP. There were 303 males and 309 females. 51.8% of patients had C5-C6 lesions, 28.9% had C5-C7, 18.9% had C5-T1, and 0.3 had C7-T1 involvement.

RESULTS

We identified 15 patients with self-biting behavior (2.5%). Ten patients had C5-T1 lesions, and five had C5-C7 lesions. Eight patents were submitted to brachial plexus surgery and seven were not. This behavior appeared between 8 and 46 months of life (mean 23.5), and it was always temporary. There was no difference between operated and non-operated patients (p > 0.05), and no correlation between age at surgery and age of appearance of self-biting behavior (p > 0.05). Physical restriction was effective in treating this complication and we had no case of finger amputation.

CONCLUSION

Self-biting behavior is a rare complication of NBPP, and it is usually associated with severe motor involvement. The behavior duration is limited to a few months. This condition can be effectively treated with physical restriction to prevent hand biting.