Surgical Correction of Supination Deformity in Children with Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy

Abstract

We present a series of 40 children who were operated on for supination contracture following severe obstetric brachial plexus palsy. Surgery was done at an average age of 7 years and the mean postoperative follow-up was 4 years. In the 23 cases treated by an open or closed radial osteotomy, the mean intraoperative derotation was 78 degrees, the immediate postoperative position was 29 degrees pronation and it stabilized at follow-up at 17 degrees pronation. Biceps rerouting was performed in 17 cases without any recurrence of supination deformity and the final position was 22 degrees pronation. Some active forearm rotation was obtained in a few cases. These surgical corrections are part of an overall treatment plan and allow the "begging hand" to be corrected to a more functional and less noticeable position.