HIGH CERVICAL SPINAL-CORD INJURY IN NEONATES DELIVERED WITH FORCEPS -REPORT OF 15 CASES

Objective: To inform obstetricians of a serious complication of forcep s rotations of 90 degrees or more-high cervical spinal cord injury in neonates. Methods: We reviewed the obstetric aspects of 15 cases of hi gh cervical spinal cord birth injury diagnosed during 1982-1994 at two tertiary-care children's hospitals in Canada. Results: The common fea ture in all cases was a forceps cephalic delivery, almost always a rot ation of 90 degrees or more from the occipitoposterior or occipitotran sverse position. Conclusion: High cervical spinal cord injury in neona tes is a rare but specific complication of forceps rotation.