Evidence-Based Treatment of Glenohumeral Dysplasia Caused by Obstetric Brachial Plexus Injuries

Abstract

Glenohumeral dysplasia is a disorder that occurs in the growing skeleton following a partial denervation of the muscles around the shoulder due to an obstetric brachial plexus palsy. Typically, there is an unopposed internal rotation force resulting in soft tissue and skeletal abnormalities. Management depends on a number of factors, but in the neonate consists of microsurgical reconstruction of the brachial plexus, and in the older child rebalancing of the muscles around the shoulder in the form of tendon transfers. Once skeletal deformities develop these need addressing in the form of reconstruction of the glenoid and humerus. Keywords Obstetric brachial plexus injury • Erb's palsy • Glenohumeral dysplasia • Glenoid retrover-sion • Humeral retroversion • Neurotisation • Tendon transfer • Osteotomy