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Subscapularis impairment on magnetic resonance imaging is correlated with functional limitations in neonatal brachial plexus palsy

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Abstract

Purpose

The relationship between functional shoulder deficits in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shoulder abnormalities was evaluated.

Methods

Shoulder function was assessed in 16 children (mean age: 5.8 years; range: 3–12 years) with NBPP based on shoulder rotator muscle strength, as measured using an isokinetic dynamometer and the modified Mallet score. The thickness and fatty infiltration of the subscapularis and infraspinatus muscles, and the morphology of the glenoid on MRI, were also determined.

Results

The highest subscapularis fatty infiltration subgroup of NBPP patients promoted the highest alteration muscle thickness and modified Mallet score.

Conclusions

In NBPP children, subscapularis impairments play a major role in the functional limitations. This study of pediatric NBPP patients highlighted the value of adding an examination of the muscles to routine MRI assessment of bone parameters in the shoulders of NBPP children.

Trial registration

NCT03440658.

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Data availability

All the data of this study are provided in the tables of this publication.

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Funding

The authors declare that this study was funded by the University Hospital of Montpellier.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. PhyMedExp, CNRS UMR 9214, INSERM U1046, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Maxime Balloufaud, Karen Lambert & Marion Delpont

  2. Orthopedic Pediatric Surgery Department, Lapeyronie Hospital, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, 191 Avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295, Montpellier, France

    Sarah Hosni, Maxime Virassamy & Marion Delpont

  3. Pediatric Radiology, Arnaud De Villeneuve Hospital, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Julie Bolivar & Magali Saguintaah

  4. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Isabelle Laffont

  5. Euromov, UFR STAPS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Isabelle Laffont & Bertrand Coulet

  6. Orthopedic Surgery, Upper Extremity, Hand and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Department, Lapeyronie Hospital, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Bertrand Coulet

Authors
  1. Maxime Balloufaud
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  2. Sarah Hosni
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  3. Julie Bolivar
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  4. Magali Saguintaah
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  5. Maxime Virassamy
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  6. Isabelle Laffont
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  7. Bertrand Coulet
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  8. Karen Lambert
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  9. Marion Delpont
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Conceptualization: Bertrand Coulet, Isabelle Laffont, Marion Delpont; Material preparation, data collection and analysis: Maxime Balloufaud, Sarah Hosni, Maxime Virassamy, Marion Delpont, Karen Lambert; First draft of the manuscript: Maxime Balloufaud; Writing review: Karen Lambert, Marion Delpont. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marion Delpont.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

This study followed the recommendations of the Declaration of Helsinki, was approved by the IRB of Montpellier (2018_IRB-MTP_02-14), and was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (number NCT03440658). Written consent was obtained from the legal representatives of all children.

Consent for publication

Informed consent to participate to the publication was obtained from legal guardians.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Level of evidence: IV, case series.

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Balloufaud, M., Hosni, S., Bolivar, J. et al. Subscapularis impairment on magnetic resonance imaging is correlated with functional limitations in neonatal brachial plexus palsy. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-023-06081-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-023-06081-5

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