Laceration injury at cesarean section.

Objective: To determine the infant laceration injury rate during Cesarean sections at Naval Medical Center, San Diego and to describe risk factors associated with this complication.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of all infants born between 1 January 1996 and 31 December, 1999 identified by computer coding as having sustained a birth injury. Fifty randomly selected maternal records of Cesarean sections without infant lacerations were reviewed and analyzed as a control group.

Results: Our Cesarean section rate during the time was 16.5% with a laceration injury rate of 0.74%. When compared to controls, there was no difference in operative indication, type of Cesarean section, or any demographic information between the two groups. Male infant gender (p = 0.027) and ruptured membranes (p = 0.019) showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusions: Laceration injury to the infant during Cesarean section is associated with a laboring uterus. This is an important complication that should be part of preoperative counselling and should be documented appropriately when it occurs.