Surgery about the elbow for brachial palsy.

The results of surgical procedures performed on 21 children to improve their elbow function were reviewed. Five flexor-plasties were performed in children with weak elbow flexors. In five patients with anterior dislocations of the radial head and supination contractures, transfers of the biceps to the ulna were performed. In eight patients with supination contractures and located radial heads, turnabout transfers to make the biceps a pronator were performed. Four of the five children with flexor-plasties had significant functional gains. All five biceps to ulna transfers had increased ability to flex without the necessity of supinating. The eight patients who had the turnabout procedure of the biceps had excellent flexion with the ability to pronate the forearm.