Birth Trauma

Abstract

Birth trauma is defined as injuries associated with mechanical forces producing haemorrhage, oedema, tissue disruption, or alteration of organ function, occurring during the intrapartum period. Recent advances in prenatal diagnosis, improvements in obstetric techniques, increased frequency of caesarean section in potentially difficult deliveries, decreased use of forceps, and close monitoring of the foetus during labour have resulted in decreased incidence of birth injuries in recent years. However, birth injuries still occur and represent an important problem for the clinician. The incidence of birth trauma is 2–7 per 1000 live births. Although mechanical birth trauma may occur without any identifiable risk factors, it is more common in the context of predisposing foetomaternal risk factors. Birth injury is usually associated with unusual compressive or traction forces in association with abnormal presentation of the foetus. Every paediatric surgeon must be familiar with the management of birth trauma. Ideally, a paediatric surgeon, obstetrician, and neonatologist should participate in the evaluation and management of foetal and birth trauma.