Brachial plexus birth injury and cerebral palsy lead to a common contracture phenotype characterized by reduced functional muscle length and strength.

Introduction: Brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) and cerebral palsy (CP) both cause disabling contractures for which no curative treatments exist, largely because contracture pathophysiology is incompletely understood. The distinct neurologic nature of BPBI and CP suggest different potential contracture etiologies, although imbalanced muscle strength and insufficient muscle length have been variably implicated. The current study directly compares the muscle phenotype of elbow flexion contractures in human subjects with BPBI and CP to test the hypothesis that both conditions cause contractures characterized by a deficit in muscle length rather than an excess in muscle strength.

Use of botulinum toxin type A in the management of neonatal brachial plexus palsy.

Objective: To evaluate functional outcomes and the impact on surgical interventions after the use of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) for muscle imbalance, cocontractions, or contractures with neonatal brachial plexus palsy.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A brachial plexus center in a tertiary children's hospital.

Arthroscopically assisted Sever-L'Episcopo procedure improves clinical and radiographic outcomes in neonatal brachial plexus palsy patients.

Background: Muscle pathology resulting in internal rotation contractures in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy places abnormal stresses on the glenohumeral joint and limits global shoulder function. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical and radiographic outcomes in children treated with an arthroscopic release with or without tendon transfer, the so-called arthroscopically assisted Sever-L'Episcopo procedure.

Methods: Fifty children with an average age of 5.