Combined Sever’s Release of the Shoulder and Osteotomy of the Humerus for Erb’s Palsy

Abstract

In children with Erb’s palsy who do not recover fully, the most common residual deformity is internal rotation-adduction contracture of the shoulder. Surgical correction of this contracture is described in this paper in 12 consecutive patients by combined Sever’s release of the shoulder and osteotomy of the humerus. After an average follow-up of 3 years, the average gain of active external rotation of the shoulder was 32° and average gain of active abduction was 61°.