Prevalence and Trends of Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Injury during 2008-2017 in the Eastern Azarbayjan

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and consequences of obstetrical brachial plexus injury (BPI) in East Azerbaijan province during 2008-2017. By identifying BPI, it is possible to take steps to reduce it by adopting appropriate methods of midwifery and cesarean section. Materials and Methods: The total statistics of vaginal and cesarean deliveries from 2008 to 2018 were obtained from the Deputy of Treatment and the total number was extracted by year. The annual relative frequency of BPI was calculated by reffering to the medical records of children with BPI reffered to the Rehabilitation Center of Children’s Hospital of Tabriz. Considering that the Rehabilitation department of Tabriz Children’s Hospital is the main referral center for children with obstetrical brachial plexus injury, the statistics related to this center are approximately indicative of BPI cases in the province. Results: In order to determine the BPI trend from 2008 to 2018 in children referred to Tabriz Children’s Hospital, the prevalence of obstetrical brachial plexus injury (BPI) during 11 years on average was 0.03% (3 in 10000). The highest frequency of BPI during the last 11 years was in 2018, 26 cases with a percentage of 0.047% (4.7 in 10000) occurred. The lowest rate of BPI during tha last 11 years was in 2010 with frequency of 0.007% (0.7 in 10000) (5 cases).