A postoperative long-term study of the deltoid contracture in children.

Sixty-eight children with contracture of the deltoid muscle (82 shoulders) were treated operatively. These cases showed a minimum angle of 25 degrees of abduction in the resting position. The postoperative course with a minimum follow-up of 5 years was analyzed in 40 cases (49 shoulders). Abduction contracture of the shoulder joint completely disappeared after surgery in 23 shoulders (47%), and winging of the scapula disappeared in 39 shoulders (78%). The angle of horizontal adduction was restored in 14 shoulders (41%) postoperatively. Contracture recurred in only three shoulders (6%).