Orthopaedic Birth Injuries In A Nigerian Hospital

Abstract

This study was conceived with the purpose of finding out why there was unusual increased in the neonatal fractures and Erb's palsy as seen in the outpatient. This was a 21 month retrospective study done at Wesley Guild Hospital Ilesa- an annex of a Nigerian teaching hospital. The clinical records of patients with orthopaedic birth injuries were reviewed. Information about gender, time of presentation, obstetric history of the pregnancies, management and outcome of the injuries. Eleven cases of orthpaedic birth injuries in 11 deliveries were recorded, 1 humeral fracture, 5 femural shaft fractures and 5 Erb's palsies. The fractures were diagnosed within 2 days of birth and they were managed conservatively with consolidation of fracture within 3 weeks while the neural injuries presented late with poorer outcome. It was noted that there was no antennal care for pregnancies in eight poor mothers who are primary and secondary school-drop-outs. It was concluded lack of antennal care which is a risk factor of birth injuries is seen in low income earners and mothers with low level of education and thus the health provider(s) should make health care delivery accessible and affordable.