Results of a five-year prospective study using a feto-pelvic scoring system for term singleton breech delivery after...

Two hundred and twenty-six term singleton breech deliveries were managed prospectively during a 5-year period according to Westin's feto-pelvic scoring system based on X-ray pelvimetry, estimated fetal weight, type of breech, and outcome of previous vaginal deliveries. The vaginal delivery rate was 45.1% and cesarean section rate 54.9%. 81.5% of cesarean sections could be planned in advance, based on the scoring system. Corrected neonatal mortality was nil and persistent morbidity was 0.4% for the whole material. Asphyxia, defined as 5 min Apgar score less than 7, occurred in only 1% of cases, evenly distributed among vaginal and planned cesarean deliveries. It was possible by means of the scoring system to identify a group of women who could give birth vaginally, without any mortality or persistent morbidity.