Prediction of Shoulder Dystocia using Third Trimester Ultrasound and Clinical Data

Abstract

Shoulder dystocia (SD) is a rare but life-threatening complication of vaginal delivery, occurring in approximately 0.2 to 3.0% of births. Prior studies identified numerous antepartum and intrapartum risk factors. Ultrasound (US) findings have been suggested as an adjunct to aid in the prediction of SD, however, prior studies have been inconsistent in their findings and were limited by low sensitivity and positive predictive values. We hypothesize that a combination of clinical and third trimester US parameters can be used to create a reliable prediction model for SD.