Risk factors and prognosis for brachial plexus injury and clavicular fracture in neonates: a prospective analysis from the United Arab Emirates

The purpose was to identify risk factors and document the incidence and prognosis for brachial plexus palsy (BPP) and clavicular fracture (CF) among consecutive hospital liveborn (LB) infants in the United Arab Emirates. During a 2-year period, all hospital-born infants were examined twice by paediatricians before discharge and those found to have BPP or CF were evaluated and followed up by an orthopaedic surgeon. Each clavicular fracture was confirmed radiologically. For the assessment of risk factors, three controls were selected for each case of BPP or CF. Of the 9231 LB, 27 (2.9/1000) had BPP while 24 (2.6/1000) sustained CF. After controlling for potential confounding variables, shoulder dystocia (SD), fetal macrosomia (birthweight > 4000 g), instrumental vaginal delivery and diabetes remained risk factors for BPP while only fetal macrosomia and instrumental delivery increased the risk of CF. The frequency of these risk factors was higher than that reported from the West. Infants with BPP had a higher incidence of SD (p = 0.0001) and tended to be heavier (p = 0.052) than those with CF. All infants with CF recovered while 20% of those with BPP had moderate to severe residual disabilities. This study highlights geographic differences in risk factors for BPP and CF and the possible contribution of BPP to morbidity in infancy. Early recognition of fetal macrosomia and improved management of SD and maternal diabetes are necessary to reduce the incidence of BPP and CF as well as morbidity from BPP in this community.