ABSTRACT
Our objective was to investigate the association between permanent Erb's palsy and
the presence of historic obstetrical risk factors. Cases of documented permanent Erb's
palsy from our national registry of children with Erb's palsy were extracted and analyzed
for the purpose of this descriptive study. Maternal and neonatal records were reviewed
for demographic data, prenatal care, labor characteristics, delivery outcome, and
long-term follow-up. Sixty-three infants with permanent Erb's palsy were identified.
Seventeen (27.0%) mothers were nulliparous. Mean ± SD (range) gestational age at delivery
and birthweight were 39.9 weeks ± 1.3 (37-43) and 4501 g ± 625 (3352-6905), respectively.
Maternal and perinatal characteristics of these cases were (n [%]): nondiabetic-56 (89%); weight gain <40 Ib-48 (76%); normal labor-57 (91%); 2nd
stage <2.0 hr-54 (86%); midpelvic procedure-13 (21%); and shoulder dystocia-59 (94%).
There were no statistically significant differences between patients with birthweight
>4500 g (n = 26 [41%]) and those with birthweight <4500 g (n = 37 [59%]). These data suggest that historic risk factors for neonatal brachial
plexus injury may not be associated with permanent Erb's palsy.
Keywords
Erb's palsy - shoulder dystocia - brachial plexus injury
