[Connexions between instrumental delivery and cerebral damage in the infant (author's transl)]

An interdepartmental investigation was carried out on the incidence of brain injury, especially so-called minimal brain injury, after instrumental delivery of infants by means of forceps or vacuum extractor. There is no statistically-significant difference in the incidence of brain injury in infants delivered by means of forceps as compared with the vacuum extractor; there is, however, a significant increase in incidence of brain injury in infants following instrument-aided delivery as opposed to spontaneous delivery. A thorough explanation of the methods is given and the results are discussed.