Laceration injury at cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the infant laceration injury rate during Cesarean sections at Naval Medical Center, San Diego and to describe risk factors associated with this complication.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of all infants born between 1 January 1996 and 31 December, 1999 identified by computer coding as having sustained a birth injury. Fifty randomly selected maternal records of Cesarean sections without infant lacerations were reviewed and analyzed as a control group.

RESULTS

Our Cesarean section rate during the time was 16.5% with a laceration injury rate of 0.74%. When compared to controls, there was no difference in operative indication, type of Cesarean section, or any demographic information between the two groups. Male infant gender (p = 0.027) and ruptured membranes (p = 0.019) showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Laceration injury to the infant during Cesarean section is associated with a laboring uterus. This is an important complication that should be part of preoperative counselling and should be documented appropriately when it occurs.