The epidemiological study of neonatal brachial plexus injury in Guangxi, China

Abstract

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of neonatal brachial plexus injury in Guangxi. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 114 cases of neonatal brachial plexus injury recruited from twelve hospitals in Guangxi between January 2007 and December 2017. The basic situation of the mothers before pregnancy, during pregnancy and during childbirth was analyzed. Results The average birth weight of the children was (4 056.49±701.57) g, of which 61 cases had total brachial plexus injury. The average BMI before pregnancy of the mothers was (22.83±3.23) kg/m2 and the average weight gain during pregnancy was (13.68±3.41) kg. There were 80 cases of shoulder dystocia and 59.65% of the mothers delivered in county or township hospitals. Conclusion The birth weight, maternal weight before and during pregnancy, and delivery mode are all related to neonatal brachial plexus injury. It is necessary to strengthen health education, control the weight of pregnant women before and during pregnancy, reduce the incidence of macrosomia, strengthen the monitoring of high-risk pregnant women, and carefully use the devices for midwifery. Key words: Infant, newborn; Brachial plexus; Epidemiology; Guangxi