GENITAL BURNS AND VAGINAL DELIVERY

Obstetric complications may result from burn scarring in the genital a rea. Women in developing countries typically squat around cooking fire s, and burns are common. This recent case in Nepal describes obstructe d labor in a young woman whose genital area had extensive scarring fro m a cooking fire injury. Proper antenatal assessment by health care pr oviders can reduce the risk to mothers and infants of the consequences of a birth canal damaged or obstructed by burn scarring.