Birth injuries of neonates in Alzahra hospital of Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Objective: To determine types and incidence of birth injuries of neonates born in Alzahra hospital. Methods: Prospectively during one year out of 7260 neonates born in Alzahra hospital, 108 birth injuries which occured in 102 neonate were studied regarding type, clinical features, management and hospital course. Results: Birth injury was more common in male neonates and in those who had vaginal deliveries. Caput succedaneum (52.7% cases) was the most common, cephalohematoma and asphyxia (17.6% cases) each were 2nd in frequency. Mortality rate was 5.9% and all of them had asphyxia except one who had rupture of liver in addition to asphyxia. Conclusion: Our study showed that the incidence of birth injury in this center is more than developed countries. It seems that special attention should be payed to management of labour to reduce perinatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries.