title: Neonatal brachial plexus injury: comparison of incidence and antecedents between 2 decades.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to compare the incidence and antecedents of neonatal brachial plexus injury (BPI) in 2 different 5-year epochs a decade apart following the introduction of specific staff training in the management of shoulder dystocia.
  
  
  METHODS
  All infants with BPI were prospectively identified during 2004 through 2008. Injuries were correlated with maternal details and intrapartum events and compared with the earlier series.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 41,828 deliveries during 2004 through 2008, 72 infants with BPI were identified (1.7/1000), compared to 54 cases (1.5/1000) from 1994 through 1998 (P = .4); 9 injuries (12.5%) were persistent from 2004 through 2008, compared with 10 (18.5%) earlier (P = .4). There were no significant differences between the 2 time periods with respect to maternal parity, obesity, or prolonged pregnancy, although the cesarean section rate had increased from 10.7 to 18.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite training in the management of shoulder dystocia and a rising institutional cesarean section rate, the incidence of BPI has remained unchanged compared with 10 years earlier.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. jennifer.walsh@ucd.ie
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Nandini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kandamany
authors.forename: Niamh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ni Shuibhne
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Colm
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Herlihy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001724:Birth Weight; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004420:Dystocia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005113:Extraction, Obstetrical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007318:Inservice Training; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012782:Shoulder; D055815:Young Adult