![Preventing Birth Injuries]()
Shoulder dystocia--the obstructed delivery of an infant’s shoulders and body after emergence of the head in the final moments of birth--occurs unpredictably in up to 1 in 25 vaginal deliveries. Quickly recognizing the problem and conducting specialized delivery maneuvers helps prevent injury to the infant’s brachial plexus (the network of nerves that sends signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand), which occurs in up to 40% of shoulder-dystocia-complicated deliveries. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has awarded Edith Gurewitsch Allen, M.D., a 5-year, $2 million grant to evaluate the effectiveness of simulation training in reducing the rate of these injuries. The training uses virtual reality and haptic (mannequin)- based instruction to simulate maneuvers shown to decrease strain on the brachial plexus Dr. Allen is professor of obstetrics & gynecology and women’s health at Einstein and executive vice chair of clinical services, OB-GYN at Montefiore. (1 R18 HS026689-01)
Posted on: Thursday, September 19, 2019