Predictors of neonatal brachial plexus palsy subsequent to resolution of shoulder dystocia

Abstract

Objective

The objective was to ascertain factors among deliveries complicated by shoulder dystocia (SD) and neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP).

Methods

At 11 hospitals, deliveries complicated by SD were identified. The inclusion criteria were vaginal delivery of non-anomalous, singleton at 34–42 weeks. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were created to evaluate the predictive value of the models for NBPP.

Results

Of the 62,939 individuals who delivered vaginally, 1,134 (1.8%) had SD and met other inclusion criteria. Among the analytic cohort, 74 (6.5%) had NBPP. The factor known before delivery which was associated with NBPP was diabetes (aOR = 3.87; 95% CI = 2.13–7.01). After delivery, the three factors associated with NBPP were: (1) birthweight of at least 4000 g (aOR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.05–3.20); (2) calling for help during the SD (aOR = 4.09, 95% CI = 2.29–7.30), and (3) the duration of SD ≥120 sec (aOR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.30–4.69). The AUC under the ROC curve for these independent factors was 0.79 (95% CI = 0.77 − 0.82).

Conclusions

Few factors were identified that were associated with NBPP after SD, but they could not reliably predict which neonates will experience the complication.

Keywords:

• Shoulder dystocia
• neonatal brachial plexus palsy
• neonatal morbidity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).