The relationship of fetal position and ethnicity with shoulder dystocia and birth injury.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with the occurrence of shoulder dystocia and subsequent perinatal outcomes.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 29,612 consecutive term, singleton, vertex vaginal deliveries. The primary outcome was reported shoulder dystocia. Fetal position, ethnicity, and their interaction terms were examined along with maternal characteristics, induction and length of labor, operative vaginal delivery, epidural, and birth weight in both bivariate and multivariate analyses.


RESULTS
Among women who met study criteria, 524 (1.8%) experienced a shoulder dystocia. African American women had the highest risk of shoulder dystocia (2.6%), compared with other races/ethnicities (P = .001). Women who delivered in occiput posterior position were noted to have a lower risk for shoulder dystocia (1.1%) as compared with occiput anterior position (1.8%, P = .046). However, in the setting of a shoulder dystocia, a higher risk of brachial plexus injury was observed in neonates delivered in occiput posterior position (adjusted odds ratio 10.4, 95% confidence interval 3.03 to 35.88) by vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery (adjusted odds ratio 3.24, 95% confidence interval 1.37 to 7.67) and neonates weighing 4000 g or more (adjusted odds ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval 1.09 to 5.85).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall African American women have an increased risk of shoulder dystocia, but their neonates are not more likely to experience birth injury. Although occiput posterior position has a protective effect for shoulder dystocia, the risk of brachial plexus injury is increased in the setting of a persistent occiput posterior delivery. These factors should be used to consider a patient's prospective risk for shoulder dystocia and associated outcomes.
Cheng
Yvonne W
YW
Division of Perinatal Medicine and Genetics, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0132, USA. yvecheng@hotmail.com
Norwitz
Errol R
ER
Caughey
Aaron B
AB
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001034:Apgar Score; D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology; D004420:Dystocia; D005113:Extraction, Obstetrical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007746:Labor Presentation; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012782:Shoulder