Abstract
BackgroundPosterior dislocation of the shoulder in brachial plexus birth palsy during the first year of life is rare but the incidence increases with age. The aim was to calculate the incidence of these lesions in children below one year of age.MethodsThe incidence of brachial plexus birth lesion and occurrence of posterior shoulder dislocation was calculated based on a prospective follow up of all brachial plexus patients at an age below one in Malmö municipality, Sweden, 2000–2005.ResultsThe incidence of brachial plexus birth palsy was 3.8/1000 living infants and year with a corresponding incidence of posterior shoulder dislocation (history, clinical examination and x-ray) during the first year of 0.28/1000 living infants and year, i.e. 7.3% of all brachial plexus birth palsies.ConclusionAll children with a brachial plexus birth lesion (incidence 3.8‰) should be screened, above the assessment of neurological recovery, during the first year of life for posterior dislocation of the shoulder (incidence 0.28‰) since such a condition may occur in 7% of children with a brachial plexus birth lesion.
Highlights
Posterior dislocation of the shoulder in brachial plexus birth palsy during the first year of life is rare but the incidence increases with age
Brachial plexus birth lesions occur with an incidence of around 2.3–3.3/1000 live births per year [1,2]
Spontaneous recovery is common but as many as 25% of teenagers with a brachial plexus birth lesion may have secondary complications, which are mostly located in the shoulder region with the deformity, medial rotation contracture and problems with activity of daily living (ADL; [3])
Summary
Posterior dislocation of the shoulder in brachial plexus birth palsy during the first year of life is rare but the incidence increases with age. The aim was to calculate the incidence of these lesions in children below one year of age. Spontaneous recovery is common but as many as 25% of teenagers with a brachial plexus birth lesion may have secondary complications, which are mostly located in the shoulder region with the deformity, medial rotation contracture and problems with activity of daily living (ADL; [3]). The incidence of posterior dislocation in relation to brachial plexus birth palsy in children below one year of age has not previously been reported. Our aim was to determine the incidence of posterior dislocation of the shoulder among children with an age below one and the corresponding incidence of brachial plexus birth lesion in Malmö municipality, Sweden, during 2000–2005
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