Upper limb birth trauma in a Jordanian population: a prospective study at King Hussein Medical Centre, Amman, Jordan
Firas Ahmad Suleiman1, Ala Awwad Almaaitah2, Hashim Ezzat Aqrabawi3
1Paediatric Orthopaedic Division, Orthopaedic Department, King Hussein Medical Centre. Amman. Jordan.
Insights
Upper limb birth injuries occur in about 5.4 per 1,000 live births, with clavicle fractures being the most common. These birth traumas are often unpredictable and unpreventable.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatal care
- Orthopedic surgery
Background:
- Birth injuries, particularly to the upper limb, represent a significant concern in neonatal care.
- Understanding the incidence and risk factors is crucial for prevention and management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of upper limb injuries in newborns.
- To identify the main risk factors associated with these birth traumas.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted at King Hussein Medical Centre, Amman, Jordan.
- Data from 5,030 live births were analyzed from October 2014 to May 2015.
- Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 17 to identify predisposing factors.
Main Results:
- The incidence of upper limb birth trauma was 5.4 per 1,000 live births (27 cases out of 5,030).
- Clavicle fracture was the most frequent injury (3.97 per 1,000 live births), followed by brachial plexus injuries (0.6 per 1,000) and humerus fractures (0.2 per 1,000).
- Injuries were observed in both male and female newborns without significant gender disparity.
Conclusions:
- Upper limb injuries at birth are not uncommon.
- The majority of these birth-related injuries were found to be unpredictable and unpreventable.
Objective:
To determine the incidence of and the main risk factors related to upper limb injury at birth.
Methods:
This prospective study was conducted at the King Hussein Medical Centre, Amman, Jordan, from October 2014 to May 2015, and comprised newborns. The probable predisposing factors for upper limb birth injury and their relation to injury were analysed. SPSS 17 was used for data analysis.
Results:
Of the 5,030 live births, 5,003(99.46%) newborns were without and 27(0.54%) were with upper limb birth trauma (5.4 injuries per 1,000 live births). Moreover, 2,565(51%) were boys and 2,465(49%) were girls. Of the injured, 20(74%) patients had clavicle fracture, 3(11.1%) each had brachial plexus injuries and fractures to the humerus, and 1(3.7%) had olecranon fracture, translating into an incidence of 3.97, 0.6 and 0.2 per 1,000 live births, respectively.
Conclusions:
Upper limb injury was not uncommon at birth. In most cases, such injuries were unpredictable and unpreventable.
