Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 May 13;10(5):876.
doi: 10.3390/children10050876.

Examination of Upper Extremity Length Discrepancy in Patients with Obstetric Brachial Plexus Paralysis

Murat Danisman  1 , Abdulsamet Emet  2 , Ismail Aykut Kocyigit  2 , Ercan Hassa  3 , Akin Uzumcugil  4
Affiliations

Examination of Upper Extremity Length Discrepancy in Patients with Obstetric Brachial Plexus Paralysis

Murat Danisman et al. Children (Basel). .

Abstract

Since the natural course of obstetric brachial plexus palsy is variable, several problems are encountered. One important question, in considering patients with OBPP under observation in outpatient clinical settings, is whether children will have length discrepancies in their arms. The aim of this study was to determine differences in the length of the affected extremity, in comparison to the opposite upper extremity. As such, 45 patients, aged 6 months to 18 years, with unilateral brachial plexus palsy developed due to obstetric reasons, were included in the study. Affected and healthy side humerus, ulna, radius, 2nd metacarpal and 5th metacarpal lengths were evaluated according to gender, age, side, Narakas classification, primary and secondary surgery. Statistically significant differences were found in the change rates of affected/healthy humerus, radius, 2nd metacarpal and 5th metacarpal lengths according to age (93%, 95%, 92%, 90% and 90%, respectively). Affected/healthy change rates of ulna, radius, 2nd metacarpal and 5th metacarpal lengths were found to differ statistically (p < 0.05) according to the Narakas classification variable (94%, 92%, 95%, 94% and 94%, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in the ratios of affected/healthy change in the lengths of the humerus, ulna, radius and 5th metacarpal compared to the primary surgery (p > 0.05). The ratios of affected/healthy change in ulna, radius and 5th metacarpal lengths were found to differ statistically (p < 0.05) according to secondary surgeries (93%, 91%, 91% and 92%, respectively). Joint and bone deformities and bone shortening were observed after changes that occurred in the postnatal and growing periods due to obstetric brachial plexus palsy. Every increase in function to be gained in the upper extremity musculature was also potentially able to reduce problems, such as shortness.

Keywords: Narakas; brachial plexus; length discrepancy; paralysis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Measurement of upper extremity.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Humerus, ulna, radius, 2nd metacarpal and 5th metacarpal lengths.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Jellicoe P., Parsons S.J. Brachial plexus birth palsy. Curr. Orthop. 2008;22:289–294. doi: 10.1016/j.cuor.2008.07.004. - DOI
    1. Walsh J.M., Kandamany N., Ni Shuibhne N., Power H., Murphy J.F., O’Herlihy C. Neonatal brachial plexus injury: Comparison of incidence and antecedents between 2 decades. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2011;204:324.e1–324.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2011.01.020. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Abzug J.M., Kozin S.H. Evaluation and management of brachial plexus birth palsy. Orthop. Clin. 2014;45:225–232. doi: 10.1016/j.ocl.2013.12.004. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Barber E.L., Lundsberg L.S., Belanger K., Pettker C.M., Funai E.F., Illuzzi J.L. Indications contributing to the increasing cesarean delivery rate. Obstet. Gynecol. 2011;118:29–38. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31821e5f65. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Coroneos C.J., Voineskos S.H., Coroneos M.K., Alolabi N., Goekjian S.R., Willoughby L.I., Farrokhyar F., Thoma A., Bain J.R., Brouwers M.C. Obstetrical brachial plexus injury: Burden in a publicly funded, universal healthcare system. J. Neurosurg. Pediatr. 2016;17:222–229. doi: 10.3171/2015.6.PEDS14703. - DOI - PubMed