Clinical-Electromyography Correlation in Infants With Obstetric Brachial Plexopathy (original) (raw)
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The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American), 2009
Background: The criteria and timing for nerve surgery in infants with obstetric brachial plexopathy remain controversial. Our aim was to develop a new method for early prognostic assessment to assist this decision process. Methods: Fifty-four patients with unilateral obstetric brachial plexopathy who were ten to sixty days old underwent bilateral motor-nerve-conduction studies of the axillary, musculocutaneous, proximal radial, distal radial, median, and ulnar nerves. The ratio between the amplitude of the compound muscle action potential of the affected limb and that of the healthy side was called the axonal viability index. The patients were followed and classified in three groups according to the clinical outcome. We analyzed the receiver operating characteristic curve of each index to define the best cutoff point to detect patients with a poor recovery. Results: The best cutoff points on the axonal viability index for each nerve (and its sensitivity and specificity) were <10% (88% and 89%, respectively) for the axillary nerve, 0% (88% and 73%) for the musculocutaneous nerve, <20% (82% and 97%) for the proximal radial nerve, <50% (82% and 97%) for the distal radial nerve, and <50% (59% and 97%) for the ulnar nerve. The indices from the proximal radial, distal radial, and ulnar nerves had better specificities compared with the most frequently used clinical criterion: absence of biceps function at three months of age. Conclusions: The axonal viability index yields an earlier and more specific prognostic estimation of obstetric brachial plexopathy than does the clinical criterion of biceps function, and we believe it may be useful in determining surgical indications in these patients.
The role of electromyography in the management of the brachial plexus palsy of the newborn
Clinical Neurophysiology, 2005
Despite being the foremost examination in the management of traumatic nerve damage electromyography (EMG) has an uncertain and illdefined role in the investigation of brachial plexus palsy of the newborn (BPPN). This may be because EMG, which is used most commonly several months after birth, fails to answer adequately two of the most important questions posed by this condition: its aetiology and the likely prognosis. In this review, we contend that EMG has important contributions to the solution of both of these questions but only if the timing of the investigation is altered. Used early on in the first few days after birth, EMG can separate the rare palsies that occurred during the intrauterine period from those caused by events at the time of birth, and thus have an important role in directing the investigations of the aetiology more appropriately. EMG alone would still not be able to determine which of the perinatal events were responsible. If the EMG is then repeated before reinnervation complicates interpretation, it seems probable that it would identify accurately those cases, where neurotmesis and avulsion have occurred, much earlier than 3 months of age, the crucial age in the clinical assessment of BPPN for consideration for surgery. This might have very important implications for the future directions of treatment.
The Journal of Hand Surgery: Journal of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand, 2004
The towel test consists of covering an infant's face with a towel and seeing if he/she can remove it with either arm. In this study it has been used to aid the clinical and electromyographic assessment of 21 infants with obstetric brachial plexus palsy. At 2 to 3 months, none of the 21 infants succeeded in removing the towel, either with their normal or affected arm. At 6 months, all the infants succeeded in removing the towel with their normal arm, but 11 could not with their affected arm, and the same was observed at a further assessment at 9 months. The towel test is a reliable technique for evaluating children with obstetric brachial plexus injuries. Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume, 2004) 29B: 2: 155-158
Relationship of age and type of obstetric brachial plexus paralysis in forearm pronosupination
Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia (English Edition)
Objective: To evaluate the arc of forearm pronosupination of patients with sequelae of birth paralysis and correlate with these variables. Methods: 32 children aged between 4 and 14 years with total or partial lesions of the brachial plexus were evaluated; measurements of pronation and supination, active and passive, were made, both on the injured side and the unaffected side. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between the injured side and the normal side, but there was no difference between the groups regarding age or type of injury. Conclusion: The age and type of injury did not impact on the limitation of the forearm pronosupination in children with sequelae of birth paralysis.
Electromyography in Pediatric Population
Noro Psikiyatri Arsivi, 2017
Introduction: Electrodiagnostic evaluation provides an important extension to the neurological examination for the evaluation of pediatric neuromuscular disease. Many pediatric neuromuscular diseases are analogous to those seen in the adult. However, the relative frequency of these illnesses varies greatly when different age populations are compared. The purpose of the present study is to provide a retrospective analysis of children referred to our electromyography (EMG) laboratory for electrophysiological examinations. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed electrodiagnostic records of patients aged between 0-15 years, from January 2004 to June 2013. Patients were classified as having plexopathy, nerve root lesions, polyneuropathy, myopathy, mononeuropathy, anterior horn cell disease, neuromuscular transmission disorder, facial nerve palsy, and other rare disorders. Results: We reviewed totally 5563 pediatric records, which was on the average 578 studies per year. It was about 14% of the all EMG examinations performed in our laboratory. When we looked at all the procedures, 3271 of the records included needle EMGs, 170 of them were single fiber EMGs, 100 of them were repetitive nerve stimulations, and 52 of them were evoked potentials. The results were normal in 55% of the cases. As a result of electrophysiological examinations, the common diagnoses were: plexopathy (28.6%), polyneuropathy (7.4%), and myopathy (6.6%) in patients aged 0-5 years (41.2% of all records); myopathy (9.4%), PNP (8.5%), mononeuropathy (6.4%), and plexopathy (5.9%) in 6-10 years (28.2% of all records); PNP (11.3%), myopathy (6.6%), and mononeuropathy (5.6%) in 11-15 years (30.6% of all records). Conclusion: Infants and toddlers mostly suffered from brachial plexopathy which can be prevented by proper obstetrical management. Nerve conduction studies and EMG yielded diagnostic importance for demyelinating neuropathy and myopathy in patients older than 6 years of age.
Clinical assessment, MRI, and EMG in congenital brachial plexus palsy
Pediatric Neurology, 1999
Thirteen infants with congenital brachial plexus palsy (eight with upper, five with upper and lower) were monitored by magnetic resonance imaging (the first performed between 7 and 41 days of age and the second at 3 months of age), electromyography (the first performed between 27 and 50 days and the second at 3 months), and the muscle scoring system of the Hospital for Sick Children (at 3, 6, and 9 months of age). The findings were evaluated with respect to the clinical status of the patients at 12 months of age. Magnetic resonance imaging, which could be performed readily even in the neonatal period, revealed pseudomeningoceles in two of the five patients with a poor prognosis (in all planes even in the early days after birth) and in two of the eight patients with a good prognosis (more easily visible at 3 months of age). Electromyography implied root avulsion in three of five patients with a poor prognosis. Electromyography can be of great value for patients with a poor prognosis and root avulsion but may underestimate the severity. The muscle scoring system (Hospital for Sick Children) was determined to be the most predictive method for prognosis.
Long-term follow-up of children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy I: functional aspects
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 2007
The aim of this study was to examine long-term neurophysiological outcomes and sensory function in patients with obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP). The same 70 children/adolescents examined in part I: functional aspects (35 males, 35 females; age range 7-20y, mean 13y 6mo [SD 4y 3mo], median 13y) were examined with neurophysiological methods at 3 to 7 months and at 7 to 20 years of age. Thirteen of the 70 participants underwent nerve reconstruction before 1 year of age. Electromyography (EMG) was performed on deltoid and first interossei muscles; Quantitative Sensory Test was used for C6 and C8 dermatomes. Tests for functional sensibility and 2-point discrimination for C6 and C8 were performed. This study shows that considerable EMG changes can be observed in OBBP, even in those fully recovered. EMG changes in the deltoid were shown to deteriorate over time, and sensibility is considerably less affected than motor function.
Neonatal Brachial Plexus Paralysis: A Discussion on the Light of Literature
Amadeus International Multidisciplinary Journal
Neonatal Brachial Plexus Paralysis (PPBN) is defined as a brachial plexus traction or compression injury resulting from dystocic delivery. The incidence of PPBN varies from 0.42 to 5.1% per 1000 births. The lesion occurs in the expulsive period of childbirth, is most often associated with shoulder dystocia, gestational or pre-gestational diabetes and macrosomic fetuses. The lesion resulting from C5-C6 root involvement is the most frequent, affecting around 50 to 60% of the cases, and 80% of these patients have spontaneous recovery. However, around 20 to 30% of patients may develop persistent deficits, with permanent impacts on upper limb function, compromising the child's development; leading to repercussions for their families and for the health system. PPBN is usually diagnosed by clinical examination and usually does not require imaging studies. Initial treatment is conservative based on functional rehabilitation through physical therapy. Sequential physical examination will indicate patients with no recovery of shoulder movement between 3 and 6 months, who may benefit from surgical treatment. The prognosis of PPBN depends on the level (pre-or postganglionic), the extent, severity of the lesion, the speed of recovery and the quality of initial clinical management.
Children
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...
Function in unaffected arms of children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy
European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, 2018
Objective: The objective is to compare the fine and gross motor function of unaffected arms of children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBBP) with typically developing children's dominant upper extremities. Methods: Fifty-three patients with OBBP and fifty-one typically developing children between the age of 4 and 13 were included in the study. For gross motor function evaluation in the upper extremity box-block test (BBT), for fine motor skill nine-hole peg (9HP) test was used. For grasp and pinch strength measurements, a Jamar dynamometer is used. Results: The patient group performed significantly worse in 9HP and BBT tests. When further divided into age groups, 4e8 age patient group performed significantly worse in 9HP and BBT tests, while there were no differences in children in the 9e13 age group. Conclusions: The fine and gross motor functions of the unaffected arms of children with OBPP are significantly worse in children between the ages of four and eight but this deficit improves with age, and possibly with ongoing therapy.