Shoulder dystocia

Shoulder dystocia (/ˈʃoʊldər dɪsˈtoʊʃə/) is a specific type of obstetric complication when the anterior shoulder of the baby cannot pass below the pubic symphysis, or requires significant manipulation to pass below the pubic symphysis. It is diagnosed when the shoulders fail to deliver shortly after the fetal head.

Etymology

The term "dystocia" comes from the Greek words "dys" meaning difficult, painful, or abnormal, and "tokos" meaning birth. Therefore, shoulder dystocia can be translated to mean a difficult or abnormal birth due to the position of the baby's shoulder.

Causes

Shoulder dystocia can be caused by several factors, often related to the size of the baby or the mother's pelvis. These can include macrosomia (a newborn with an excessive birth weight), gestational diabetes, obesity in the mother, or a history of shoulder dystocia in previous births.

Treatment

Treatment for shoulder dystocia involves a series of maneuvers performed by the obstetrician to free the baby's shoulders and allow for delivery. These can include the McRoberts maneuver, where the mother's legs are flexed and abducted towards her torso, or the Wood's Screw maneuver, where the baby is rotated to free the impacted shoulder.

Complications

Complications of shoulder dystocia can include injury to the baby's brachial plexus, fracture of the baby's clavicle or humerus, and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy due to a lack of oxygen. For the mother, complications can include postpartum hemorrhage and rectovaginal fistula.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Shoulder dystocia
Wikipedia's article - Shoulder dystocia

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Shoulder dystocia