Outcomes After Primary Repair and Staged Reconstruction of Zone I and II Flexor Tendon Injuries in Children.

BACKGROUND: Delayed diagnosis of flexor tendon injury in children is common, and consequent flexor sheath scarring may necessitate a 2-stage reconstruction. Previous studies show variable outcomes after 2-stage flexor reconstruction in children, especially those below 6 years old. We evaluated functional and subjective outcomes of primary repair and staged reconstruction of zone I and II tendon injuries in children under 6 years of age. METHODS: A retrospective chart review identified 12 digits in 10 patients who had undergone surgical treatment of a zone I or II flexor tendon injury. Seven digits had a primary repair and 5 had a 2-stage reconstruction. Time delay from injury to surgery for primary repairs averaged 18 weeks and for 2-stage reconstruction averaged 24 weeks. Outcomes included total active motion, tip pinch and grip strength, sensation, and the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI). RESULTS: Average follow-up was 8 years. At final follow-up, mean total active and passive motion of the involved digit was similar between the primary reconstruction and staged groups, and 58% had a "good" or "excellent" American Society for Surgery of the Hand; total active motion (ASSH TAM) result (71% in the primary repair group, 40% in the 2-stage reconstruction group). All regained grip and pinch strength equal to the contralateral hand. The average PODCI Upper Extremity score was 99 (99 in the primary repair group, 98 in the 2-stage reconstruction group) and PODCI Global Function score was 94 (97 in the primary repair group, 91 in the 2-stage reconstruction group). No complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Our small study demonstrates that both primary repair and 2-stage flexor tendon reconstruction have acceptable long-term functional and subjective outcomes in children below 6 years old, although staged reconstruction had a lower overall ASSH TAM score and subcategorical PODCI scores. Although staged reconstruction has acceptable outcomes in this population, prompt primary repair of flexor tendon injuries in children should always be attempted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4-therapeutic.

Incidence and prognosis of neonatal brachial plexus palsy with and without clavicle fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To report the incidence of neonatal brachial plexus palsy with and without ipsilateral clavicle fracture in a population of newborns and to compare the prognosis between these subgroups. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of 3,739 clavicle fractures and 1,291 brachial plexus palsies in neonates over a 24-year period from a geographically defined health care system with reference to county-wide population data. RESULTS: A referral clinic for children with brachial plexus palsies evaluated 1,383 neonates, of whom 320 also had ipsilateral clavicular fracture. As a result of referral patterns within the region, it is likely that this represents nearly all infants from the area with persistent brachial plexus injury after 2 months of age. Among the children evaluated without concomitant clavicular fracture, 72% resolved spontaneously (154/214); among those with concomitant clavicular fracture, 74% healed spontaneously (55/74). Limiting the analysis to neonates delivered at Parkland Memorial Hospital and assuming that those neonates with a discharge diagnosis of brachial plexus injury with or without clavicular fracture who did not present to the referral brachial plexus injury clinic had complete resolution, 94.4% without clavicular fracture resolved and 98.1% with clavicular fracture resolved (P=.005). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of persistent neurologic deficit from a birth-related brachial plexus palsy is lower than what has been reported, and the presence of a clavicle fracture may improve the likelihood of recovery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.