Sixty-five patients with birth palsies were retrospectively reviewed in a 35-year period from 1956 to 1991. Patients with birth palsies who had visited our institute did not decrease even in recent years. The distribution of palsies included 50 upper-type palsies, 15 whole-type palsies, and no lower-type palsies. High incidences of upper-type palsy were demonstrated in patients of breech deliveries. Major risk factors of birth palsies seemed to be breech deliveries and large infants.
Reconstructive surgery was performed in three cases, aged 5 to 6 years, with upper-type palsies who had shown no recovery. Stability of shoulder and useful function of shoulder abduction were obtained by Bateman's trapezius transfer, though the transferred sites migrated far distally with growth of the humerus. Excellent function of elbow flexion were reconstructed by modified Steindler's flexorplasty.
