Main Article Content
Birth injuries of the brachial plexus in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano Nigeria
Abstract
Objective: To determine the types of brachial plexus palsy and predisposing factors involved.
Setting: Hospital based tertiary health center with good facilities for newborns.
Materials and Subjects: All newborns with brachial plexus were included in the study between April 2000 and March 2004.
Result: There were 32 patients with brachial palsy during a 4 year period of study. Twenty five (78.1%) of the patients had Erb Duchenne palsy while 3(9.4%) had Klumpke's paralysis. Modes of delivery were by vertex 24(85.7%), Breech extraction 4(14.3%). There were also (4) forceps and (1) vacuum extraction.
Conclusion: Environmental factors are important in the aetiology of brachial palsy. The provisions of safe maternity services coupled with greater effectiveness in health education are the most efficient means of reducing the incidence of this paralysis and severe deformities.
Keywords: birth, brachial plexus, injuries
Tropical Journal of Medical Research Vol. 9(2) 2005: 12-13
Setting: Hospital based tertiary health center with good facilities for newborns.
Materials and Subjects: All newborns with brachial plexus were included in the study between April 2000 and March 2004.
Result: There were 32 patients with brachial palsy during a 4 year period of study. Twenty five (78.1%) of the patients had Erb Duchenne palsy while 3(9.4%) had Klumpke's paralysis. Modes of delivery were by vertex 24(85.7%), Breech extraction 4(14.3%). There were also (4) forceps and (1) vacuum extraction.
Conclusion: Environmental factors are important in the aetiology of brachial palsy. The provisions of safe maternity services coupled with greater effectiveness in health education are the most efficient means of reducing the incidence of this paralysis and severe deformities.
Keywords: birth, brachial plexus, injuries
Tropical Journal of Medical Research Vol. 9(2) 2005: 12-13
