Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Upper extremity limb-length discrepancy in brachial plexus palsy.

Patrick J McDaid1, Scott H Kozin, Joseph J Thoder

  • 1Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics
|April 19, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy often experience limb shortening. This study quantises the limb-length discrepancy, finding significant shortening in most affected limbs, particularly in the forearm.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Inner, close-to-body reachable workspace to quantify upper extremity mobility: a study on children with brachial plexus birth injury.

Journal of biomechanics·2026
Same author

Routes of Spread and Natural Progression in Acute Flaccid Myelitis.

Pediatric neurology·2026
Same author

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris to Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis Tendon Transfer in Pediatric Patients with Cerebral Palsy.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery·2025
Same author

A novel intraoperative classification for brachial plexus birth injury based on operative findings in 162 patients.

The Journal of hand surgery, European volume·2025
Same author

Development of a Core Outcomes Set for Peripheral Nerve Injury.

Journal of hand surgery global online·2025
Same author

Surgical Strategies for Functional Upper Extremity Reconstruction After Spinal Cord Injury.

Muscle & nerve·2025

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

  • Obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) frequently leads to residual limb shortening in affected children.
  • Quantifying the precise limb-length discrepancy in OBPP is crucial for understanding long-term functional impact.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the exact limb-length discrepancy in skeletally immature patients with OBPP.
  • To analyze the degree of shortening in the humerus and forearm segments.

Main Methods:

  • Radiographic assessment of humerus and forearm length in 22 skeletally immature patients with OBPP.
  • Comparison of affected limb measurements to the contralateral uninvolved limb, calculating percentage discrepancy.
  • Stratification of shortening based on the extent of brachial plexus involvement (upper vs. global lesions).

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Twenty-one of 22 patients exhibited limb shortening at both humeral and forearm levels.
  • The affected limb averaged 92% of the length of the uninvolved limb.
  • Forearm shortening (90%) was more pronounced than humeral shortening (93%); upper brachial plexus lesions showed less shortening than global lesions.

Conclusions:

  • Significant limb shortening, particularly in the forearm, is a common sequela of obstetric brachial plexus palsy.
  • The extent of brachial plexus lesion influences the degree of limb shortening.
  • Age did not correlate with the percentage difference in limb segment lengths.