title: Head trauma after instrumental births.
abstract: Instrumental vaginal delivery involves the use of the vacuum extractor or obstetric forceps to facilitate delivery of the fetus. It is associated with substantial risk of head injury, including hemorrhage, fractures, and, rarely, brain damage or fetal death. This review article describes the different types, etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, and clinical features of head trauma after instrumental birth, along with their management and prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK. sdoum@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Stergios K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Doumouchtsis
authors.forename: Sabaratnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arulkumaran
mesh_terms: D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000075202:Contraindications; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D005113:Extraction, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors