Brachial plexus palsy among neonates in Bint Al-Huda teaching hospital-Thi-Qar

Abstract EN

Background and Objective : The brachial plexus are injured mostly due to severe lateral traction of neck during delivery mainly in shoulder dystocia, large baby and prolonged labour.

Method : A prospective study was carried out on (26) cases of brachial plexus palsy.

The information depend on clinical examination at nursery care unit and delivery room notes at Bint Al-Huda Maternity and Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Al-Nassirya city through out 2009.

Results : Brachial plexus palsy (BPP) is found in (1.5 per 1000 live birth) of total delivery and usually type Erb's palsy (80.8 %) more than Klumpke (7.7 %).

Shoulder dystocia (38.8 %), Macrosomia (23 %), Prolonged labour (15.3 %) were significant risk factors for BPP.

Male (53.8 %) affected little more than female (46.2 %) and right side (61.5 %) more affected than left side (38.5 %).

Most cases of Erbs (76 %) improve with time opposite to that of Klumpke type (3.3 %) during the period of follow up for 6 months.

Conclusion : BPP still a problem in our overload delivery room.

Well trained medical staff necessary beside education about risk factors of BPP.