Abstract
Shoulder dystocia is an obstetric emergency with implications for both mother and baby. For the mother there is both the physical and psychological trauma of the delivery and for the baby the risk of obstetric brachial plexus injury, hypoxic damage and even death. Shoulder dystocia remains a highly litigious area in obstetrics even when cases are appropriately managed. Because it is difficult to predict antenatally, the focus for management is around adequate training particularly using simulation drills. Accurate documentation is also a key factor particularly with respect to the anterior shoulder. This chapter deals with the importance of following national guidance regarding mode of delivery and highlights the importance of the accurate documentation of the event.
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Draycott, T., Crofts, J. (2018). Shoulder Dystocia. In: Jha, S., Ferriman, E. (eds) Medicolegal Issues in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78683-4_28
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78683-4_28
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