Symphysiotomy at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital Afikpo, Ebonyi State of Nigeria (1982-1999): a review of 1013 cases.

One thousand and thirteen (1013) symphysiotomies were performed and 27,477 deliveries were conducted during the period. The symphysiotomy rate in the study period was 3.7%. Fifty-six percent (56%) of the patients who had symphysiotomy were aged 39 years and below, and the mean age was 27.94 +/- 7.16 years. Mothers with maternal age greater than 40 years were at a higher risk for symphysiotomy. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of those who had symphysiotomy were nulliparae, 35% were multiparae, while grandmultiparae accounted for 27%. Cephalopelvic disproportion was the leading indication for symphysiotomy (88%), while arrest of the after-coming head of the breech and previous caesarean section with mild cephalopelvic disproportion were other indications for symphysiotomy. Transient post-operative pelvic and leg pain was the leading maternal complication in the study, while stress incontinence, para urethra/vagina lacerations and vesico-vagina fistula were the other complications highlighted. In the study, 69% of the symphysiotomies performed were for babies with birth weight between 3.0 and 3.9 kg. The record of one maternal death was available and was from massive pulmonary embolism on the third day postpartum. There were 104 perinatal deaths with a perinatal mortality rate of 108.7 per 1000 total births.