Upper limb birth trauma in a Jordanian population: a prospective study at King Hussein Medical Centre, Amman, Jordan.
To determine the incidence of and the main risk factors related to upper limb injury at birth.



This prospective study was conducted at the King Hussein Medical Centre, Amman, Jordan, from October 2014 to May 2015, and comprised newborns. The probable predisposing factors for upper limb birth injury and their relation to injury were analysed. SPSS 17 was used for data analysis.



Of the 5,030 live births, 5,003(99.46%) newborns were without and 27(0.54%) were with upper limb birth trauma (5.4 injuries per 1,000 live births). Moreover, 2,565(51%) were boys and 2,465(49%) were girls. Of the injured, 20(74%) patients had clavicle fracture, 3(11.1%) each had brachial plexus injuries and fractures to the humerus, and 1(3.7%) had olecranon fracture, translating into an incidence of 3.97, 0.6 and 0.2 per 1,000 live births, respectively.



Upper limb injury was not uncommon at birth. In most cases, such injuries were unpredictable and unpreventable.
Paediatric Orthopaedic Division, Orthopaedic Department, King Hussein Medical Centre. Amman. Jordan.
Firas Ahmad
FA
Suleiman
Orthopaedic Resident. Royal Jordanian Rehabilitation Centre. Amman. Jordan.
Ala Awwad
AA
Almaaitah
Consultant Neonatologist, Department of Paediatrics. King Hussein Medical Centre. Amman. Jordan.
Hashim Ezzat
HE
Aqrabawi
D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D001720:Birth Injuries; D002968:Clavicle / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000293:injuries
Birth trauma, clavicle fracture, brachial plexus injury, Jordan.