Outcome of secondary shoulder surgery in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy with and without nerve surgery treatment history: A long-term follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: Irrespective of treatment history, shoulder dysfunction may occur in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Following internal contracture release and/or muscle tendon transfer (ICR/MTT) shoulder function gain is possible. This study describes the outcomes of ICR/MTT for children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy, with or without prior nerve surgery (a group with prior nerve surgery and a group without prior nerve surgery).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included children who underwent an ICR/MTT with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Active/passive range of motion (aROM/pROM)/Mallet scores were recorded (pre-operatively, 6 months, and 1, 3, 5 and 10 years post-surgery). Changes over time within groups were analysed using a linear mixed model.

RESULTS: A total of 115 children (60 boys) were included, 82 with nerve surgery history, mean age 4.7 years (standard deviation (SD) 3.3 years), mean follow-up 6 years (SD 3.2 years). Pre-operatively active external rotation, abduction and forward-flexion were worse in the group with prior nerve surgery. aROM, pROM and Mallet scores, improved at all time-points in both groups. The course and magnitude of these improvements were largely similar in both groups. In the long-term, the effects of ICR/MTT decrease, but remain significant.

CONCLUSION: In children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy shoulder function improved after ICR/MTT, irrespective of treatment history. Pre-operative shoulder function was worse in the group with prior nerve surgery, resulting in less function in this group after ICR/MTT. Reporting on outcome after secondary shoulder surgery should be stratified into children with and without prior nerve surgery, in order to prevent over- or underestimation of results.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: This study concerned a retrospective treatment case series study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.