Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether operative vaginal delivery worsens the extent and/or degree of permanent brachial plexus injury. STUDY DESIGN: We utilized a dataset (n = 104) of vaginal deliveries resulting in permanent brachial plexus injury that ultimately underwent litigation. We excluded patients on whom neonatal injury information was incomplete (n = 5). Patients who had an operative vaginal delivery (n = 33) were compared with those who did not (n = 66) in regard to neonatal outcome and the location and extent of neurologic injury. RESULTS: The 2 classes were similar in demographic and obstetric variables. There were no differences in rates of 5-minute Apgar scores < 7 (17.9%, or 5/28, vs. 5.2%, or 3/57, P = .1), complete neurologic injury to the brachial plexus (C5-T1) (39%, or 13/33, vs. 38%, or 25/66; P = 1.0) or avulsion of the nerve roots (44%, or 12/27, vs. 36%, or 18/50; P = .5) between those with operative or spontaneous vaginal delivery. CONCLUSION: Operative vaginal delivery did not increase the severity of impairment in a dataset of deliveries resulting in permanent brachial plexus injury.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 692-696 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Reproductive Medicine for the Obstetrician and Gynecologist |
Volume | 48 |
Issue number | 9 |
State | Published - Sep 1 2003 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Brachial plexus
- Delivery
- Dystocia
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Reproductive Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology