PERMANENT ERBS-PALSY - A LACK OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH OBSTETRICAL RISK-FACTORS

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 chil dren with Erb's palsy were extracted and analyzed for the purpose of t his descriptive study. Maternal and neonatal records were reviewed for demographic data, prenatal care, labor characteristics, delivery outc ome, and long-term follow-up. Sixty-three infants with permanent Erb's palsy were identified. Seventeen (27.0%) mothers were nulliparous. Me an +/- 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 [%]): no ndiabetic-56 (89%); weight gain <40 lb-48 (76%); normal labor-57 (91%) ; 2nd stage <2.0 hr-54 (86%); midpelvic procedure-13 (21%); and should er dystocia-59 (94%). There were no statistically significant differen ces between patients with birthweight >4500 g (n = 26 [41%]) and those with birthweight less than or equal to 4500 g (n = 37 [59%]), These d ata suggest that historic risk factors for neonatal brachial plexus in jury may not be associated with permanent Erb's palsy.