Prevalence of Posterior Shoulder Subluxation in Children With Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy After Early Full Passive Range of Motion Exercises

• Published in: PM & R Vol. 7; no. 12; pp. 1235 - 1242
• Main Authors: Justice, Denise, OTRL, Rasmussen, Lynnette, OTRL, Di Pietro, Michael, MD, Chang, Kate W.-C., MA, Murphy, Susan L., ScD, OTR, Nelson, Virginia S., MD, MPH, Yang, Lynda J.-S., MD, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2015
• Subjects: Brachial Plexus; Brachial Plexus Neuropathies - epidemiology; Brachial Plexus Neuropathies - etiology; Brachial Plexus Neuropathies - rehabilitation; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; Humans; Male; Paralysis - complications; Paralysis - physiopathology; Paralysis - rehabilitation; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Prevalence; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; Retrospective Studies; Shoulder Joint - diagnostic imaging; Shoulder Joint - physiopathology; Ultrasonography; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1934-1482; 1934-1563
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.05.013

Abstract Background Children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) are often prescribed shoulder range of motion (ROM) exercises; however, the extent and timing of exercise implementation remains controversial in the context of shoulder joint integrity. The association of ROM exercises to delayed posterior shoulder subluxation (PSS) is unknown. Objective To determine prevalence of PSS in children with NBPP who began full passive ROM exercises before 6 months of age, and characteristics associated with development or absence of PSS in children. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Tertiary care NBPP referral center. Participants Forty-six children with NBPP, aged 24-57 months, who began full ROM exercises before 6 months of age. Methods One radiologist conducted bilateral shoulder ultrasound (US) on each child to evaluate for PSS. One occupational therapist evaluated each child clinically for PSS using defined parameters without knowledge of US results. Main Outcome Measures By US, 20% of children had PSS; 46% had PSS by clinical examination. Shoulder active ROM limitations and history of shoulder surgery were associated with presence of PSS. Extent of NBPP was not associated with PSS. Results Nine of 46 children (20%) met US criteria for PSS; α angle was 58° ± 21° (mean ± standard deviation [SD]). Twenty-one children (46%) met clinical criteria. Mean age at examination was 35 ± 10 months. Shoulder active ROM ( P ≤ .004) was associated with PSS, whereas passive ROM was not ( P ≥ .08). History of secondary shoulder surgery and primary nerve graft repair were associated with PSS ( P = .04). Extent of NBPP by Narakas classification was not associated with PSS ( P = .48). Conclusions Early use of full-arc passive ROM home exercise program is not associated with increased prevalence of PSS in children with NBPP compared to prevalence of PSS in published literature. We suggest careful clinical examination, based on defined criteria, provides a reasonable screening examination for evaluating PSS that can be confirmed by noninvasive US.