A cross-sectional study of hand sensation in adults with conservatively treated obstetric brachial plexus lesion.

AIM: Sensory function is assumed to recover almost completely in obstetric brachial plexus lesion (OBPL), and is reported to recover much better than motor function. However, there is no obvious physiological reason why this should be so. Any persistent problems with sensory innervation might contribute to disability, therefore we aimed to assess sensory dysfunction in adults resulting from OBPL.

METHOD: Adults with conservatively treated OBPL (n=17; 12 females, five males; median age 38y; lesion levels: C5-C6, n=7; C5-C7, n=7; C5-C8, n=2; C5-Th1, n=1) and 19 healthy comparison persons (10 females, nine males; median age 23y) were investigated. Sensory function was measured using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments, two-point discrimination, object recognition, and a locognosia test.

RESULTS: Scores of the Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments and two-point discrimination, but not object recognition or locognosia, were significantly worse in those with OBPL than in those without OBPL.

INTERPRETATION: There may be systematic abnormalities in sensory function in adults with conservatively treated OBPL. The existence of these impairments and their contribution to functional impairment needs to be acknowledged.