Abstract
Objective
To study the incidence and risk factors for obstetric brachial plexus palsy and assess the functional outcome.
Material and Methods
Five-year data of infants with OBPP were reviewed. Case–control study was performed using matched controls to identify the risk factors. Infants with OBPP were followed up to assess functional outcome.
Results
Of the 14,184 live births over a period of 5 years from 2013 to 2017, 23 (11 males, 12 females) had OBPP. Incidence of OBPP was 1.6 per 1000 live births. Higher birth weight (p-value 0.002) and instrumental delivery (p-value 0.02) were independent risk factors for obstetric brachial plexus palsy by multivariate logistic regression analysis. No cases of obstetric brachial plexus palsy were seen in babies born by cesarean section. 95% of the infants with obstetric brachial plexus palsy had complete recovery by 4 months of age.
Conclusion
Higher birth weight and instrumental vaginal delivery are independent risk factors for obstetric brachial plexus palsy. Cesarean section may have a protective effect against OBPP. Most infants with obstetric brachial plexus palsy have complete recovery.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hoeksma AF. Neurological recovery in obstetric brachial plexus injuries : an historical cohort study. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2004;46(2):76–83.
Abzug JM, Mehlman CT, Ying J. Assessment of current epidemiology and risk factors surrounding brachial plexus birth palsy. J Hand Surg Am. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2018.07.020.
Andersen J, Watt J, Olson J, et al. Perinatal brachial plexus palsy. Paediatr Child Health (Oxford). 2006;11(2):93–100.
Annika J, Paul U, Anna-Lena L. Obstetric brachial plexus palsy – A prospective, population-based study of incidence, recovery and long-term residual impairment at 10 to 12 years of age. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpn.2018.06.006.
Lagerkvist AL, Johansson U, Johansson A, et al. Obstetric brachial plexus palsy: a prospective, population-based study of incidence, recovery, and residual impairment at 18 months of age. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2010;52(6):529–34.
Funding
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
KD conceived the idea of research paper. KD and LK helped with the study design. SK was involved in data collection and performed data analysis. KD and LK critically reviewed the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Human Animals Rights
None. (Data were retrospectively reviewed).
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Sarvesh Kossambe is an M.D. (Paediatrics) D.M. (Neonatology), Department of Neonatology, MOSC Medical College Hospital, Kolenchery, Kochi, 682,311, Kerala, India; Leela Kamath is an MD, FRCP (Ped), FRCP Neonatal-Perinatal (Canada), Department of Neonatology, MOSC Medical College Hospital, Kolenchery, Kochi, 682,311, Kerala, India; K. K. Diwakar is an DCH, MD, DNB, FRCPCH (UK), Department of Neonatology, MOSC Medical College Hospital, Kolenchery, Kochi, 682,311, Kerala, India
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kossambe, S., Kamath, L. & Diwakar, K.K. Descriptive Study of Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy (OBPP) at a Tertiary Care Hospital. J Obstet Gynecol India 72, 542–544 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-021-01520-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-021-01520-y