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Orthopaedic Management of the Upper Extremity of Stroke Patients

Ms. Tafti is Medical Student, University of California–Irvine, Irvine, CA. Dr. Cramer is Associate Professor and Director, Clinical Stroke Program, Department of Neurology, University of California–Irvine. Dr. Gupta is Professor and Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California–Irvine.

Dr. Cramer and Dr. Gupta or a member of their immediate families has received research or institutional support from NIH-NINDS. Neither Ms. Tafti nor a member of her immediate family has received anything of value from or owns stock in a commercial company or institution related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

Reprint requests: Dr. Gupta, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California–Irvine, 101 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92868.

Cerebrovascular accidents often produce significant pathology, including upper extremity muscle contractures and deformities that may be painful and aesthetically unappealing and that interfere with activities of daily living and hygiene. Orthopaedic intervention may be required to manage these disabilities. Nonsurgical management includes brachial plexus and phenol nerve blocks, which provide temporary relief of painful contractures and allow for a period of spontaneous neurologic recovery of up to 6 months. Definitive surgical procedures should be avoided during this time. After this period, surgical management can be valuable in releasing muscle spasticity, managing painful contractures, and positioning the deformed extremity in a more functional and aesthetically appealing position. Current surgical management is directed at reducing or eliminating muscle spasticity and joint contractures, with the goal of correcting deformities in shoulder adduction, elbow flexion, forearm pronation, wrist and finger flexion, intrinsic muscle spasticity, thumb-in-palm deformity, wrist extension, and finger extension.