Geometry of the proximal humeral articular surface in young children: a study to define normal and analyze the dysplasia due to brachial plexus birth palsy.

Background: Little is known regarding the morphology of the proximal humerus in growing children. This study reports bilateral magnetic resonance imaging measurements in children with internal rotation contractures from birth palsy, hypothesizing that dysplasia alters normal humeral sphericity and symmetry.

Methods: We studied 25 children with unilateral internal rotation contractures (mean age, 3.7 years) for humeral shape by bilateral magnetic resonance imaging studies at the mid-glenoid level. Local radii of curvature were compared for symmetry and orientation.

Results: Neither side showed uniform radii (sphericity), but normal humeri showed symmetry lost in dysplasia. Internal rotation contractures were correlated with flattening of the anterior humeral head (P = .0002). All heads were flatter in the region of articular contact. The skew axis (the largest cross-sectional diameter of the proximal humerus) was collinear with the articular surface centerline in normal humeri, an alignment often lost with dysplasia, resulting in a skew axis angle. The severity of glenoid deformity correlated with progressive posterior displacement of the humeral head center (P < .0003).

Conclusion: The normal humeral articular surface in the young child is not spherical and is flatter in the middle than at the periphery but is symmetric about its central axis. Internal rotation contractures result in loss of this symmetry with characteristic flattening of the anterior humeral head and development of a skew axis angle.

Clinical Relevance: Posterior displacement of the humeral head center of rotation beyond 50% of the calculated head radius warrants vigilance and possibly surgical intervention because there is a high likelihood for development of a pseudoglenoid.