Study of the Biological Function of Muscle Satellite Cells From Patients With Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy

During delivery, there can be a lesion of the nerve roots of the brachial plexus (cervical C5-C8 and/or thoracic T1 roots). The newborn presents at birth a paralysis of the arm (Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Paralysis: OBPP). One third of children with OBPP will have sequelae despite daily rehabilitation. The most frequent disability is shoulder stiffness. The current hypothesis is that this stiffness is due to a permanent imbalance between the affected shoulder muscles (lateral rotators) and the muscles less affected by the paralysis (medial rotators). Because of this imbalance, the injured shoulder is spontaneously positioned in medial rotation. This position would lead to retractions at the front of the joint despite rehabilitation. In case of incomplete recovery, growth disorders of the shoulder joint (dysplasia) appear as well as a functional handicap.

The management, from the age of 2 years, in case of shoulder stiffness and dysplasia, is surgery (arthrolysis) to regain mobility. During this operation, a muscle transfer can also be performed to strengthen the lateral rotator muscles.

However, despite surgery, mobility deficits often recur within a few years. To understand the origin of the lateral and medial rotation deficits, the investigators conducted an anatomopathological study of the rotator muscles in these children. The preliminary results show a significant damage of the rotator muscles with the presence of fibrosis which could explain the rotational stiffness and the functional impairment. To better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms, the investigatorswill set up an OBPP model in cell culture to understand the regenerative capacities and to test new pharmacological approaches.

Inclusion criteria

• OBPP children with a planned shoulder surgery (arthrolysis and/or muscle transfer).

Exclusion criteria

• other neurological disorders, post-traumatic shoulder stiffness