Injuries to the infant that may result from forces applied during the birth to aid delivery come under birth trauma.
About 2% of neonatal deaths and stillbirths have been attributed to birth trauma and its incidence is of 6-8 injuries per 1000 live births.
The trauma may occur due to use of forces, excessive traction or pulling, unintended pressure on soft organs such as eyes.
Trauma to the limb usually occurs when limb is pulled in cases of obstructed labor or shoulder dystocia (Head out, shoulder stuck).
Following xray belongs to 15 days old child who presented with swelling of the arm which was painful to touch. Abnormal mobility was noted while child was examined.
Fracture Humerus Following Birth Trauma. Note Exuberant Callus after 15 days
The xray revealed fracture of humerus with massive callus around it.
In children the callus formation is very quick and quite substantial.
The child was given simple splint of plaster slab. The fracture united in another 10 days.
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