Assessment and treatment of glenohumeral joint deformities in children suffering from upper obstetric brachial plexus palsy.

We present our approach to gleno-humeral joint deformities as sequelae from severe upper obstetric brachial plexus palsy. In 50 consecutive children with severe medial rotation contracture of the shoulder after obstetric brachial plexus palsy, we used magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate joint incongruence and dysplasia; showing frequently various deformities of the glenoid, the humeral head and pathologic changes in their relationship. The most severe deformity is true glenohumeral dysplasia.