Risk analysis of poor wound healing in forceps delivery.

Abstract

This study aims to explore the risk factors leading to poor wound healing after forceps delivery. In this retrospective study, 74 patients undergoing forceps delivery with poor wound healing were compared with contemporary randomly selected 74 patients undergoing forceps delivery but with normal wound healing. Compared to the normal healing group, the poor healing group had larger birthweight (p=0.01), longer labor length (805.9 ± 356.4min vs. 572.9 ± 306.3min, p < 0.001), more virginal checks (4.0 ± 1.5 vs. 3.4 ± 1.7, p=0.029), and more contaminated amniotic fluid (p=0.043). More patients in poor healing group suffered from postpartum fever (52.7% vs. 21.6%, p < 0.001), postpartum hemorrhage (p < 0.001), and anemia after delivery (p < 0.001). Labor length (odds ratio (OR) 1.125, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.033-1.226), anemia after delivery (OR 3.621, 95% CI=2.077-6.314), postpartum fever (OR 7.100, 95% CI=2.505-20.124), and degree of laceration (OR 3.067, 95% CI=1.258-7.479) were the risk factors of poor healing of perineal wound after forceps delivery, while postpartum antibiotics (OR 0.303, 95% CI=0.098-0.937) and suture removal days (OR 0.272, 95% CI=0.133-0.556) were the protective factors. To promote the wound healing from the forceps delivery, obstetricians may consider to control the patient's labor length and degree of laceration, increase patient's nutrition, apply prophylactic antibiotics, and prolong the suture removal days.