Role of External Rotation Osteotomy of the Humerus in Patients with Brachial Plexus Injury.

Background

A deficit of external rotation of the shoulder is a common sequelae of brachial plexus injury (BPI). This internally rotated posture of the limb becomes more apparent and functionally limiting once the patient recovers elbow flexion resulting in the hand striking the abdomen on attempted flexion ('tummy flexion'). This precludes hand-to-mouth reach, resulting in an inability to eat with the involved hand. The aim of this study is to present the outcomes of an external rotation osteotomy of the humerus in adult BPI.

Methods

All BPI patients who underwent an external rotation osteotomy of the humerus at our institution over a 5-year period from January 2015 to December 2020 were included in this study. Data with regard to the age, gender, type of BPI, time from injury to nerve surgery and from nerve surgery till external rotation osteotomy, degree of pre- and postoperative external rotation, time to union, patient satisfaction and complications were recorded.

Results

The study included 19 patients (18 men and one woman) with an average age of 30 years (range 20-58). The average time interval from the injury to the nerve surgery was 3.8 months, and between the nerve surgery and the external rotation osteotomy was 29.5 months. No patient had any preoperative external rotation and all attained a resting posture of 15°-20° of external rotation, were able to reach the mid-line of the body, and none complained of loss of internal rotation. There was an implant failure in one patient that was managed with splinting till union and removal of implants later.

Conclusions

External rotation osteotomy of the humerus is a simple and effective procedure to place the limb in a better aesthetic and functional position. Level of Evidence: Level IV (Therapeutic).