Aysu Kahraman1, Akmer Mutlu, Ayşe Livanelioğlu. 1. Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (Drs Kahraman, Mutlu and Livanelioğlu), Hacettepe University, Sıhhıye, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to define the movement characteristics and postures of infants with obstetric brachial plexus lesion. METHODS: The study group included 20 infants with obstetric brachial plexus lesion and a control group of 20 infants with normal neurological outcome, aged 9 to 17 weeks postterm. Infants were evaluated by global and detailed general movements assessment. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the motor optimality scores of the 2 groups. However, there were some differences in terms of concurrent movements and the posture. Infants with obstetric brachial plexus lesion demonstrated more excitement bursts, head rotation, hand-knee contact, rolling, and few finger posture and postural asymmetry, and performed jerky movements when compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetric brachial plexus lesion did not affect the quality of fidgety movements of the infants but leads to compensatory movements in concurrent movements on the unaffected sides.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to define the movement characteristics and postures of infants with obstetric brachial plexus lesion. METHODS: The study group included 20 infants with obstetric brachial plexus lesion and a control group of 20 infants with normal neurological outcome, aged 9 to 17 weeks postterm. Infants were evaluated by global and detailed general movements assessment. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the motor optimality scores of the 2 groups. However, there were some differences in terms of concurrent movements and the posture. Infants with obstetric brachial plexus lesion demonstrated more excitement bursts, head rotation, hand-knee contact, rolling, and few finger posture and postural asymmetry, and performed jerky movements when compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS:Obstetric brachial plexus lesion did not affect the quality of fidgety movements of the infants but leads to compensatory movements in concurrent movements on the unaffected sides.