Effect of operative vaginal delivery on the outcome of permanent brachial plexus injury.

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).

Correlating head-to-body delivery intervals with neonatal depression in vaginal births that result in permanent brachial plexus injury.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate which variables predict neonatal depression in vaginal deliveries that result in permanent brachial plexus injury.

Study Design: With the use of a data set of litigated vaginal deliveries (n = 103 deliveries) from 1978 through 1999 that resulted in permanent brachial plexus injury, detailed delivery and neonatal and pediatric information was obtained by chart review. Neonatal depression was defined as a 5-minute Apgar score of <7.