Obstetric clavicular fractures. A three-year analysis.

A three-year retrospective study of al deliveries in a military residency program revealed 24 cases of fractured clavicles. Fifteen of these 24 cases were thoroughly reviewed. The incidence of clavicular fractures was 7.2 per 1,000 term deliveries. Fractured clavicle seemed to be best correlated with birth weight, level of obstetric experience of the delivering physician and midforceps deliveries. It was not well correlated with type of anesthesia, length of labor, length of second stage, Apgar scores, parity and judged difficulty of delivery. Only 1 infant of 15 suffered neurologic injury. A review of the literature and suggestions for possible prevention are presented.