The Relationship between Trunk Control and Upper Extremity Function in Children with Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy

ABSTRACT

Purpose

This study aimed to assess sitting skills and trunk control in children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) and investigate the effect of these skills on upper extremity function.

Methods

A total of 106 children with OBPP aged 10–18 months were included in this study. Injury severity was determined with Narakas Classification. The Gross Motor Function Measurement Sitting Sub-scale was used to assess sitting skills, while the Sitting Assessment Scale was used to evaluate the trunk control. The upper extremity functions were assessed with using the Active Movement Scale and the Modified Mallet Score.

Results

As the severity of injury increased, sitting skills and trunk control values decreased (p = .0001). In addition, upper extremity function decreased with the decreasing sitting skills and trunk control (p = .0001).

Conclusion

Rehabilitation approaches should involve approaches that aim to increase trunk control in addition to programs targeting the extremity function in children with OBPP.

KEYWORDS:

• Obstetric brachial plexus palsy
• sitting position
• trunk control
• upper extremity function

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all respondents for participating in the study.

Author Agreement

The authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript being submitted. They warrant that the article is the authors’ original work, has not received prior publication, and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. In addition, the authors declare that they contribute at every stage throughout the study.

Conflict Of Interest

All authors declare that there are no personal or financial conflicts of interest which could have influenced the present manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

The authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge, or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.