Obstetrical Palsy: The French Contribution

The study and description of obstetrical paralysis began in the 18th century and came from various countries in Europe. Although the first description in the literature came from England, most of the work done in the 19th century came from French authors. The name of the pathological condition was given by Duchenne de Boulogne in the second part of the 19th century. The surgical treatment was developed essentially in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century but was abandoned during the 1930s, only to be begun again in France in 1977. The French contributions are exposed, but they are only a part of the vast international interest for this condition. KEYWORDS Brachial plexus - obstetrical paralysis