ABSTRACT
A hospital-based case-controlled study was undertaken to determine maternal and neonatal
characteristics associated with fractured clavicle. A total of 11,604 consecutive
vaginal deliveries of liveborn infants in vertex presentation at the Mount Sinai Hospital
from 1988 to 1990 were reviewed. Maternal and neonatal characteristics were compared
for the neonates with and without a diagnosis of a fractured clavicle. Compared to
controls, mothers of neonates with a fractured clavicle were more likely to be nulliparas
or primiparas, to have had an operative vaginal delivery, and to have been delivered
by an attending as opposed to a resident physician. The fractured clavicle group also
had a longer gestational age, greater birthweight, and higher frequency of macrosomic
infants. After controlling for maternal parity, type of delivery and infant birthweight,
experience of the delivering physician, and gestational age at delivery were not significantly
different. Fracture of the clavicle in the neonate is related to maternal parity,
mode of delivery, and infant birthweight but not to the level of experience of the
delivering physician.
Keywords
Neonate - trauma - clavicle
