C5-8 neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Operative findings, reconstructive strategy and outcome

From 1998 to 2014, we performed primary brachial plexus repair in 260 children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Thirty-three presented with a C5-8 palsy and 24 were reviewed for this study. The surgical strategy was to focus on repairing the upper trunk. Secondary surgical procedures were performed in 21 patients, mainly for shoulder external rotation deficit or weak wrist extension. After a mean follow-up of 9.7 years (range 3 to 19), the median Mallet score for the shoulder was 9.5 and the mean Raimondi score for the hand was 3.3. Median active movement scale was 5, 7 and 5.5 for the deltoid, biceps and triceps, respectively. We conclude that primary C5-8 brachial plexus reconstruction provides restoration of elbow flexion and most patients have a sensitive and functional hand. We also found that secondary surgery to improve shoulder and wrist function is often necessary, which should initially be explained to the family.