Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Uniportal Full Endoscopic Posterolateral Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Published on: June 6, 2025
Soft forceps
D F Roshan1, B Petrikovsky, L Sichinava
1NYU School of Medicine, Tisch Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, NYU Program for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. roshad01@med.nyu.edu
Objective:
The risk of maternal and fetal trauma and, chiefly, the fear of law suits, have contributed to a significant decline in rates of forceps-assisted deliveries and an increase in rates of cesarean sections, especially in the United States. Our experience with gas-sterilized forceps blades covered with a soft rubber coating--the "soft" forceps--is described.
Method:
Ninety-six women who required a forceps-assisted delivery for standard indications were randomly allocated to 2 groups. There were 51 women in the regular forceps group and 45 women in the soft forceps group. Low forceps delivery with a Simpson instrument was used in all cases. The groups were compared for fetal injury.
Results:
The rates of severe facial abrasion and minimal marking were 4.1% and 61%, respectively, in the regular forceps group and 1.9% and 34% in the soft forceps group.
Conclusion:
The soft forceps may reduce the rates of neonatal facial abrasion and skin bruises. The forceps should be further perfected, as well as vacuum extractors; they should both continue to be part of the obstetrician's armamentarium.
