United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My daughter is supposed to have one. Her arm is internally rotating so badly that it's almost backward. My husband doesn't think that anything will work long term because nothing has worked long term yet. I don't know what to do about this. If we don't do the osteotomy then her arm will get more and more backwards. But if we do it, then how many times will we have to redo it when it starts turning in again? Will nothing stop this internal rotation? I need your advice. Have any of you had this done when you were younger?

Dear Guest
I am a 52 year old male. At birth my left arm was turned backwards due to OBP. It is only about 50% the size of my right arm which is above normal size and very strong.

When I was seven years old the Drs broke the left arm between the shoulder and the elbow and rotated it forward. This was done again when I was 14. The arm did not keep rotating the wrong way. I do not know if it was called an osteotomy or what it was called.

Their main purpose was to give me a semifunctional arm to eat with, write with etc. if something were to happen to my right arm.

I grew on a farm, worked in the woods, played every sport possible and yes I did break a lot of boones including my right arm. Yes the left one did do some of the basics but it was no darn good when it came to sanitary situations.

My suggestion would be to give her a chance. Medicine has come a long way since I was a child. And the arm will not be much good to here behind her back.

Hope I was of help

Sincerely
The Bandit

thank you for your reply. are there any more adults who have had this done? I hope that more step forward.

Dear Guest,
I know a gal who was about 31 when she had her humeral osteotomy. There is a Dr. in Texas by the name of Dr. Guggenheim that preformed her operation. He has done many of these operations on children and she was the first adult to have it done to my knowledge. It helped her out quite a bit. They do say the younger a surgery is done the better chance of recovery to it's fullest potential. It just depends on what you choose to do.

Yes, Dr. Guggenheim works with the Ilizarov braces. I think I know the woman you mentioned. I will contact her. Thank you.

Does anyone have Deanna William's current email address? She is the woman who had the ilizarov brace but her old email address is bouncing.