Imaging assessment of glenohumeral dysplasia secondary to brachial plexus birth palsy

• Main Authors: Francisco Abaete Chagas-Neto, Vitor Faeda Dalto, Michel Daoud Crema, Peter M. Waters, Everaldo Gregio-Junior, Nilton Mazzer, Marcello Henrique Nogueira-Barbosa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colégio Brasileiro de Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem 2016-06-01
• Series: Radiologia Brasileira
• Subjects: Traumatismos do nascimento/complicações; Artropatias/diagnóstico; Neuropatias do plexo braquial/complicações; Cabeça do úmero/anormalidades; Luxação do ombro/diagnóstico; Tomografia computadorizada
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-39842016000300004&lng=en&tlng=en

Abstract Objective: To assess imaging parameters related to the morphology of the glenohumeral joint in children with unilateral brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP), in comparison with those obtained for healthy shoulders. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective search for cases of unilateral BPBP diagnosed at our facility. Only patients with a clinical diagnosis of unilateral BPBP were included, and the final study sample consisted of 10 consecutive patients who were assessed with cross-sectional imaging. The glenoid version, the translation of the humeral head, and the degrees of glenohumeral dysplasia were assessed. Results: The mean diameter of the affected humeral heads was 1.93 cm, compared with 2.33 cm for those of the normal limbs. In two cases, there was no significant posterior displacement of the humeral head, five cases showed posterior subluxation of the humeral head, and the remaining three cases showed total luxation of the humeral head. The mean glenoid version angle of the affected limbs (90-α) was -9.6º, versus +1.6º for the normal, contralateral limbs. Conclusion: The main deformities found in this study were BPBP-associated retroversion of the glenoid cavity, developmental delay of the humeral head, and posterior translation of the humeral head.