Pain in children following microsurgical reconstruction for obstetrical brachial plexus palsy. 2015

Emily S Ho, and Christine G Curtis, and Howard M Clarke
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Department of Rehabilitation Services, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: emily.ho@sickkids.ca.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and characteristics of pain experienced by children who have had microsurgical reconstruction for obstetrical brachial plexus palsy (OBPP). METHODS A prospective case series study was conducted of 65 children aged 6 to 18 years with a diagnosis of OBPP and who had microsurgery at less than 12 months of age with nerve grafting or transfer. A total of 28 patients (43%) had upper OBPP and 37 (57%) had total OBPP. We evaluated pain using the Faces Pain Scale-Revised and the Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool. Sensory symptoms in the affected limb were also collected. Mean age was 11.0 ± 3.3 years. RESULTS We evaluated 65 children. The point prevalence of pain (pain at the time of assessment) was 25%. The reported lifetime prevalence of pain (experienced anytime during life) was 66%. A total of 71% reported that the affected extremity felt different at least once in their lifetime. Average intensity of those with pain (n = 43) was 40 ± 19 mm on a 100-mm visual analog scale. Seventy percent of children reported that symptoms occurred every day or at least once a week. Anatomical distribution of pain was throughout the affected upper extremity irrespective of the severity of injury, with the exception of children with upper plexus injuries who did not report pain in their hand. Words typically used to describe neuropathic or musculoskeletal symptoms were chosen by the children to represent their pain. CONCLUSIONS Children with OBPP who had microsurgical reconstruction commonly reported pain. These symptoms were typically frequent but were episodic and low in intensity. The descriptions of the type of pain include terms typical of both neuropathic and musculoskeletal origins. METHODS Prognostic IV.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008297 Male Males
D008866 Microsurgery The performance of surgical procedures with the aid of a microscope.
D009437 Neuralgia Intense or aching pain that occurs along the course or distribution of a peripheral or cranial nerve. Nerve Pain,Neurodynia,Paroxysmal Nerve Pain,Neuralgia, Atypical,Neuralgia, Iliohypogastric Nerve,Neuralgia, Ilioinguinal,Neuralgia, Perineal,Neuralgia, Stump,Neuralgia, Supraorbital,Neuralgia, Vidian,Neuropathic Pain,Atypical Neuralgia,Atypical Neuralgias,Iliohypogastric Nerve Neuralgia,Iliohypogastric Nerve Neuralgias,Ilioinguinal Neuralgia,Ilioinguinal Neuralgias,Nerve Neuralgia, Iliohypogastric,Nerve Neuralgias, Iliohypogastric,Nerve Pain, Paroxysmal,Nerve Pains,Nerve Pains, Paroxysmal,Neuralgias,Neuralgias, Atypical,Neuralgias, Iliohypogastric Nerve,Neuralgias, Ilioinguinal,Neuralgias, Perineal,Neuralgias, Stump,Neuralgias, Supraorbital,Neuralgias, Vidian,Neurodynias,Neuropathic Pains,Pain, Nerve,Pain, Neuropathic,Pain, Paroxysmal Nerve,Pains, Nerve,Pains, Neuropathic,Pains, Paroxysmal Nerve,Paroxysmal Nerve Pains,Perineal Neuralgia,Perineal Neuralgias,Stump Neuralgia,Stump Neuralgias,Supraorbital Neuralgia,Supraorbital Neuralgias,Vidian Neuralgia,Vidian Neuralgias
D010246 Paralysis, Obstetric Paralysis of an infant resulting from injury received at birth. (From Dorland, 27th ed) Paralysis, Obstetrical,Obstetric Paralyses,Obstetric Paralysis,Obstetrical Paralyses,Obstetrical Paralysis,Paralyses, Obstetric,Paralyses, Obstetrical
D010525 Peripheral Nerves The nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, including the autonomic, cranial, and spinal nerves. Peripheral nerves contain non-neuronal cells and connective tissue as well as axons. The connective tissue layers include, from the outside to the inside, the epineurium, the perineurium, and the endoneurium. Endoneurium,Epineurium,Perineurium,Endoneuriums,Epineuriums,Nerve, Peripheral,Nerves, Peripheral,Perineuriums,Peripheral Nerve
D011446 Prospective Studies Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D005260 Female Females

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