Fetal Deformations: A Risk Factor for Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Palsy?

[richinma2005]

Pediatric Neurology, Volume 35, Issue 4, Pages 246-249
I. Alfonso, G. Diaz-Arca, D. Alfonso, H. Shuhaiber, O. Papazian, A. Price, J. Grossman
Abstract

The purpose of this report is to discuss the association of brachial plexus palsy and congenital deformations. We reviewed all charts of patients less than 1 year of age with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy evaluated by one of the authors (IA) between January 1998 and October 2005 at Miami Children’s Hospital Brachial Plexus Center. Of 158 patients with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy, 7 had deformations (4.4%). Deformations were present in 32% of patients delivered by cesarean section, but in only 2% of patients delivered vaginally. The deformations were ipsilateral, involving the chest in two patients, distal arms in two patients, proximal arm in one patient, ear in one patient, and the leg in one patient. All patients with deformations had unilateral Erb’s palsies. None had a history of maternal uterine malformation. Two presumptive mechanisms of injury, one causing the deformation (compressive forces) and one causing brachial plexus palsy at the time of delivery (traction forces), were present in all cases. The higher incidence of deformation in patients with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy born by cesarean sections and the presence of two presumptive mechanisms in all of the cases presented here raises the possibility that fetal deformations are a risk factor for obstetrical brachial plexus palsy.

[Marcie]

Has there been evidence of problems with the jaw on just the affected side? I recently read on here, about a parent whose child had to have all their teeth extracted on just the affected side due to the jaw not being allied (I can't recall excatly what was said.) I've been trying to find it. I just took my daughter to the dentist today. I mentioned to him about the message I read on here. He took a panoramic of her jaw and he is going to take her pics to a local ortho surgeon. Our dentist will let me know he the ortho says.

[marieke]

She had a four teeth pulled, not all of them...

http://ubpn.org/messageboard/thread ... 855#261855

[Marcie]

Is that the only message that talks about the teeth and jaw on the affect side? I read it and it doesn't sound like the one I recall reading.

[marieke]

That's the only one that I remember.. but try searching through her posts. You can click on her name and go through what she has posted (Fran's posts).