title: Recurrence rate of shoulder dystocia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Shoulder dystocia continues to be a major complication of obstetrics, and several factors have been identified to help predict its occurrence. A previous shoulder dystocia is one of the risk factors. However, the recurrence rate is unknown. The purpose of this study is to report the recurrence rate of shoulder dystocia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our obstetric database was used to identify all vaginal deliveries between January 1983 through December 1992. A subset of vaginal deliveries complicated by shoulder dystocia was selected from this database. These records were reviewed to identify subsequent pregnancies, outcomes, risk factors, and demographic data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period there were 37,465 total vaginal deliveries, with shoulder dystocia complicating 747 (overall rate 2%). Of these 747 cases, 101 patients had 123 subsequent vaginal deliveries, with shoulder dystocia complicating 17 of these pregnancies (13.8% recurrence rate, p < 0.0001). Comparisons were made between those patients with recurrent shoulder dystocia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shoulder dystocia recurred at a rate approximately seven times higher than our primary rate. Whether patients with a history of shoulder dystocia should be offered an elective abdominal delivery requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport 71130-3932, USA.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Heymann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003710:Demography; D004420:Dystocia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012782:Shoulder