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Risk factors for neonatal brachial plexus palsy
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2020 Zonal Ave, IRD 220, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
Neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) is an unpredictable complication of childbirth. Historic risk factors for the occurrence of NBPP have included shoulder dystocia, fetal macrosomia, labor abnormalities, operative vaginal delivery, and prior NBPP. However, whether studied alone or in combination, these risk factors have not been shown to be reliable predictors. The majority of NBPP cases occur in women with infants <4500 g who are not diabetic and have no other identifiable risk factors. Furthermore, cesarean section reduces but does not completely eliminate the risk for NBPP. In this section, the relationship of these historic obstetric risk factors to the occurrence of NBPP is further explored.
Neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) is an unpredictable complication of childbirth. Historic risk factors for the occurrence of NBPP have included shoulder dystocia, fetal macrosomia, labor abnormalities, operative vaginal delivery, and prior NBPP. However, whether studied alone or in combination, these risk factors have not been shown to be reliable predictors. The majority of NBPP cases occur in women with infants <4500 g who are not diabetic and have no other identifiable risk factors. Furthermore, cesarean section reduces but does not completely eliminate the risk for NBPP. In this section, the relationship of these historic obstetric risk factors to the occurrence of NBPP is further explored.
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