An adjustable shoulder abduction orthosis for the post-operative management of tendon transfers: A preliminary study

Transfer of Musculus Latissimus dorsi/M. Teres major to the rotator cuff with or without M. Subscapularis/M. Pectoralis release is a widely used procedure for restoring shoulder abduction and external rotation in squeal of obstetric brachial plexus palsy. After the operation a shoulder abduction orthosis in maximal external rotation and 90 - 100 degrees abduction is utilized following six weeks of immobilization in a shoulder spica cast for protecting the newly transferred muscle from undue elongation. However this in turn may cause contracture of the external rotators. To overcome this problem, a modified shoulder abduction splint with adjustable internal-external rotation/abduction-adduction ranges was developed in the orthotics department of a rehabilitation center. The custom molded adjustable shoulder abduction orthosis is described and the preliminary results are compared with former applications.