One-bone forearm osteodesis and biceps re-routing to correct severe supination contracture in a paediatric patient with late obstetric brachial plexus palsy

Purpose: The one-bone forearm arthrodesis has been performed to change the position of the forearm in children with fixed supination deformity due to upper extremity neurologic deficit. In this article, we present a retrospective review of children with late obstetric brachial plexus palsy who underwent palliative surgery to correct severe supination contracture by one-bone forearm osteodesis and biceps re-routing. This technique has not been described previously.

Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, four consecutive patients with upper extremity weakness and severe supination contracture who underwent forearm osteodesis in neutral or slight pronation and biceps re-routing. The average age of patients at the time of surgery was 12 years six months (range, 7-14 years).

Results: The average follow-up was one year ten months (range, 1 year 6 months to 2 years 7 months). The rotation of the forearm set in neutral (3 patients) and 15° pronation (1 patient). No patients noted adverse effects on the shoulder, elbow or wrist, and none missed having forearm rotation.

Conclusions: One-bone forearm osteodesis and biceps re-routing technique should be considered in some patients with fixed forearm supination deformity and concomitant severe pronation deficit. In this group of patients, repositioning the forearm in a more pronated (or less supinated) position may improve the use of that extremity in activities of daily living. The surgical technique is fairly simple and can be done in a single procedure.