title: Prenatal factors related to face presentation: a case-control study.
abstract: Face presentation is rare. Its risk factors are debated and its mechanism is practically unknown. The objectives of the study were to determine the prenatal factors associated with face presentation at delivery and discuss the mechanism by which it occurs.
  
  
  
  Retrospective case-control study including all cases of face presentation of infants born at a gestational age between 22 and 42 weeks of gestation over a 16 year period. For each case, we selected three control women who gave birth the same day.
  
  
  
  During the study period, there were 64 cases of face presentation (incidence: 0.8 per 1000 births), which we compared with 191 controls. After logistic regression, the four factors most closely associated with delivery in face presentation were twin pregnancy [OR 25.8 (4.7-141.8)], birth weight <2500 g [OR 8.9 (2.1-38.0)], polyhydramnios [OR 7.1 (2.0-25.2)], and multiparity [OR 3.6 (1.5-8.6)].
  
  
  
  These factors are all associated with a reduction in the uterine constraints on fetal attitude. This may play a role in the mechanism resulting in face presentation.
authors.affiliation: Pôle Femme Mère Nouveau-né, Clinique d'Obstétrique, Jeanne de Flandre Hospital, University of Lille Nord de France, 1 rue Eugène Avinée, 59037, Lille Cedex, France. emmanuelle.arsene@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arsene
authors.affiliation: Unité de Biostatistiques, MRRC, CHRU Lille, 6, rue du Professeur Laguesse, 59045, Lille Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langlois
authors.affiliation: Pôle Femme Mère Nouveau-né, Clinique d'Obstétrique, Jeanne de Flandre Hospital, University of Lille Nord de France, 1 rue Eugène Avinée, 59037, Lille Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garabedian
authors.affiliation: Pôle Femme Mère Nouveau-né, Clinique d'Obstétrique, Jeanne de Flandre Hospital, University of Lille Nord de France, 1 rue Eugène Avinée, 59037, Lille Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clouqueur
authors.affiliation: Pôle Femme Mère Nouveau-né, Clinique d'Obstétrique, Jeanne de Flandre Hospital, University of Lille Nord de France, 1 rue Eugène Avinée, 59037, Lille Cedex, France.|EA 4489, Environnement périnatal et croissance, PRES Université Lille Nord de France, 59000, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deruelle
authors.affiliation: Pôle Femme Mère Nouveau-né, Clinique d'Obstétrique, Jeanne de Flandre Hospital, University of Lille Nord de France, 1 rue Eugène Avinée, 59037, Lille Cedex, France.|EA 2694, PRES Université Lille Nord de France, 59000, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Subtil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007746:Labor Presentation; D016015:Logistic Models; D006831:Polyhydramnios / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Deflexed presentations; Face presentation; Logistic regression; Risk factor