Accidental contact burns of the upper limb in children with obstetric brachial plexus injury

Abstract

The denervated limb of the child with obstetrical brachial plexus injury is theoretically at risk of contact burns. A prospective study was designed to document the incidence and clinical presentation of these burn injuries in a series of 127 birth palsy cases. The study group included 90 Erb's and 37 total plexus palsy cases. Accidental burns occurred in 11% of total palsy cases and 1% of the Erb's palsy group. All injuries were contact burns and confined to the denervated limb. When the circumstances of the burn injury where investigated, it was concluded that injury to the denervated limb was either due to poor motor control, insensibility or a combination of both factors. Finally, treatment and prevention of these injuries are discussed.