An historical cohort study was conducted to investigate the rate and extent of neurological recovery in obstetric brachial plexus injury (OBPI) and to identify possible prognostic factors in a cohort of children with OBPI from birth to 7 years. All children (n=56; 31 females, 25 males) with OBPI were evaluated at fixed time intervals by one examiner. They underwent a final neurological examination at a mean age of 3 years 10 months (range 1 to 7 years). Neurological outcome was not as favourable as is often reported: complete neurological recovery occurred in 37 out of 56 children (66%). In half of these there was delayed recovery, in which case complete neurological recovery was assessed from 1.5 to 16 months of age (median age 6.5 months, SD 4.2 months). External rotation and supination were the last to recover and recovered the least. Although biceps function at three months was considered to be the best indicator for operative treatment, external rotation and supination were found to be better in predicting eventual complete recovery. Initial symptoms directly post partum were not found to be prognostic. Functional outcome was mainly reported to be good.

An historical cohort study was conducted to investigate the rate and extent of neurological recovery in obstetric brachial plexus injury (OBPI) and to identify possible prognostic factors in a cohort of children with OBPI from birth to 7 years. All children (n=56; 31 females, 25 males) with OBPI were evaluated at fixed time intervals by one examiner. They underwent a final neurological examination at a mean age of 3 years 10 months (range 1 to 7 years). Neurological outcome was not as favourable as is often reported: complete neurological recovery occurred in 37 out of 56 children (66%). In half of these there was delayed recovery, in which case complete neurological recovery was assessed from 1.5 to 16 months of age (median age 6.5 months, SD 4.2 months). External rotation and supination were the last to recover and recovered the least. Although biceps function at three months was considered to be the best indicator for operative treatment, external rotation and supination were found to be better in predicting eventual complete recovery. Initial symptoms directly post partum were not found to be prognostic. Functional outcome was mainly reported to be good.

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The incidence of obstetric brachial plexus injury (OBPI) was investigated and the natural course of this disorder and the frequency of shoulder contracture described. Between 1988 and 1997 13,366 children with a gestational age of 30 weeks or more, were born at the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam. Of these, 62 had an OBPI (4.6 per 1000). Complete neurological recovery occurred in 72.6% of cases. Half of them had a delayed recovery of more than three weeks (mean recovery time 6.2 +/- 3.1 months). Shoulder contracture occurred in at least one-third of the children with delayed recovery and in at least two-thirds of the children with incomplete recovery. The incidence of OBPI in our hospital was found to be higher and to have a less favourable natural course than is usually reported in the literature. Contracture of the shoulder joint is frequently found even in infants with complete neurological recovery.

Neuropathy may bring about changes in form and function of the foot, which may lead to ulceration and progressive deformity. These manifestations often require specially adapted footwear. A comprehensive concept of the medical, functional, and technical requirements for this type of footwear is still lacking to date. In this article, we present an algorithm that should facilitate prescription and manufacture of adequate shoes. This algorithm attempts to establish a link between the requirements from a medical and functional point of view and the technical possibilities of orthopedic shoe technology. Diabetes Care 24:705-709, 2001T he neuropathic foot is characterized by loss of peripheral nerve function, which can be sensory, motor, autonomic or, usually, a combination of these. This loss of function causes changes in the form and function of the foot and may lead to ulceration and severe deformity, which eventually may result in amputation (1). Therefore, protection of the foot is of the greatest importance. In addition to a careful lifestyle, appropriate footwear is essential for achieving this protection (1,2).In medical literature on the neuropathic foot, much has been written about the prevention of complications. The importance of "good footwear" is stressed, though frequently without further specification (3,4). So far, research has focused only on parts of the problem, mostly pressure reduction (5-8), although in addition to peak pressure, the duration of maximum pressure and shear stress are also important (9 -11). Diabetic footwear has been discussed in descriptive articles (12, 13) and technical studies (8,14). However, the authors confine themselves to specific aspects like pressure distribution and rocker-bottom outsoles (8,14). A comprehensive conceptual approach for the management of the various aspects of this footwear problem is still lacking (15). The rationale behind footwear prescriptions is often unclear to patients and healthcare workers alike, and this can diminish compliance (3,16).The aim of this article is to describe the relationship between medical requirements and technical possibilities. For this purpose, we have developed an algorithm. A number of its components are evidencebased, but most are opinion-based, because testing the effects of therapeutic footwear is impossible without clear guidelines. This algorithm aims at establishing guidelines for clinical treatment and further research into this complex subject. REQUIREMENTS BASED ON MEDICAL FEATURESAltered biomechanics in the foot may lead to ulceration and progressive deformity (17). Here, we will only discuss the different features of a neuropathic foot. Because neuropathy commonly occurs in diabetes, we will also mention one of its consequences, limited joint mobility, which is not directly related to neuropathy (18). Sensory dysfunction Loss of sensory functionIn the long term, reduction of sensory function may lead to complete loss of sensation in the foot. We speak of loss of protective sensation when the patient is not aw...