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Do obstetrical brachial plexus injuries affect proprioceptive sense?

Deran Oskay1, Edibe Unal, Sirzat Cetinkaya

  • 1Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. deranoskay@yahoo.com

Neurosciences (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
|October 20, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children with obstetrical brachial plexus injuries (OBPI) show decreased shoulder proprioception. This impaired sensory input affects joint function over time, highlighting the need for targeted rehabilitation strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric rehabilitation
  • Neuroscience
  • Orthopedics

Background:

  • Obstetrical brachial plexus injuries (OBPI) affect nerve function in the shoulder and arm.
  • Proprioception, the sense of joint position, is crucial for motor control and function.
  • Understanding proprioceptive deficits in OBPI is vital for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess proprioceptive sensory input in the shoulder joint of children diagnosed with OBPI.
  • To compare proprioception between the affected and unaffected sides in children with OBPI.

Main Methods:

  • A controlled study involving 39 children (aged 7-12) with OBPI.
  • Proprioceptive evaluation conducted on both affected and normal shoulders at 10%, 30%, and 90% of passive abduction angles.
  • Movement speed for evaluation was set at 2 degrees/second.

Main Results:

  • Statistically significant differences in proprioception were found between affected and normal sides at 10% and 30% of target angles.
  • Higher absolute proprioception scores were observed on the affected side compared to the normal side.
  • These findings suggest a compromised proprioceptive network in OBPI.

Conclusions:

  • A notable decrease in proprioceptive sense was observed in children with OBPI.
  • Deterioration of the proprioceptive network can negatively impact shoulder functionality over time.
  • This underscores the importance of addressing proprioceptive deficits in the rehabilitation of OBPI.
Abstract

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