Objective To reinforce the recognization of deltoid contracture inchildren and probe its causes, pathomechanism,diagnosis and treatments. Methods The Clinical data were summarized and analysed, including etiological factors, clinical situations, examinations and treatments from 9 child patients with deltoid contracture from 1992 to2004. The 9 child patients were followed up to evaluate therapeutic efficacy. Results Nine child patients with deltoid contractureincluded 4 boys and 5 girls, who aged from 5 to 14 years. The main clinical features were presented as abductive deformity,limitation of adduction of the shoulder, winging of the scapula, and dimpling of the skin with a palpable fibrous hard band in deltoid muscle. Four cases had a history of intramuscular injections in deltoid and 1 case was accompanied with bilateral gluteul contracture.Among the 9 patients, 8 cases were misdiagnosed before correct diagnosis and treatment. The misdiagnosis rate was up to 90%. All the cases received the operative treatments to release fibrous bands and were followed up for 8 months to 12 years. Abductive deformity disappeared and functions of the shoulders recovered inall patients, except 1 patient who had a lightly winged scapula. Conclusion Deltoid contracture may be caused by multiple factors,but its clinical features are conductive to correct diagnosis and excellent therapautic efficacy can be acquired by operation early.

Citation： TANG Xueyang,LIU Lijun,PEN Mingxing,et al.. DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DELTOID CONTRACTURE IN CHILDREN. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 2006, 20(3): 279-281. doi: Copy