Using the main elbow flexion skin crease as an intraoperative parameter to determine the degree of exorotation needed for humeral derotational osteotomies in upper-type brachial plexus patients.

Unlabelled: Even though one of the surgical techniques most frequently used to correct external rotation deformity of the shoulder in brachial plexus patients is a humeral derotational osteotomy, few intraoperative parameters has yet been identified to determine the appropriate degree of rotation. We present in this technical note our initial experience using the main elbow flexion skin crease to quantify the correct rotation of the humerus in four young, male patients with upper-type brachial plexus injuries. All patients had a functional elbow and a stable shoulder, but also an external rotation deficit.