Scaled generic and fetus-specific musculoskeletal modeling for simulating posterior arm delivery in the shoulder dystocia management.

Abstract

Current childbirth simulations lack realism due to oversimplified fetal models. This study introduces a foetus-specific musculoskeletal model to simulate posterior arm delivery in shoulder dystocia and compares it to a scaled adult-to-foetus model. Using medical imaging and synthetic kinematic data, the fetal model showed notable differences in joint and muscle behaviors, with up to 39 mm deviation in elbow movement. This is the first use of a foetus-specific model for simulating delivery complications, highlighting its clinical relevance for improving accuracy in childbirth simulations and identifying potential risk factors in complex deliveries.