Revisión de las parálisis braquiales neonatales observadas en el Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona

ObjectiveTo evaluate the maternal, neonatal and delivery risk factors that could be associated with brachial plexus palsy in the neonate.Material and methodWe performed a retrospective study of maternal and neonatal medical records between January 1988 and May 1999.ResultsAmong 27 287 deliveries, there were 23 cases of brachial plexus palsy. A total of 65.2% of the patients delivering a newborn with a brachial plexus lesion were overweight before pregnancy and presented excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Four mothers were diabetic. Forceps delivery and vacuum extraction were associated in 73.9% of newborns with brachial palsy and previous shoulder dystocia was observed in three of these. The mean birth weight was 4073.34 g, and 56.5% of newborns weighed more than 4000 g. Notably, 60.8% of the children with brachial palsy made a complete recovery.ConclusionsThe factors associated with brachial palsy are weight more than 4000 g, forceps or vacuum delivery, excessive weight gain, diabetes, and shoulder dystocia.