ABSTRACT
Traumatic injuries in pregnancy are a major cause of nonobsterics maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. In blunt maternal–fetal trauma, placental abruption is the leading cause of death with maternal survival. Use of prenatal ultrasonography (US) has allowed early identification of the risk factors for possible birth trauma, including fetal size and position and enlarged fetal organs or masses. Caput succedaneum is a diffuse edematous, occasionally hemorrhagic swelling of the scalp, superficial to the periosteum, occurring secondary to compression of the presenting part during prolonged labor. Most of the skull fractures are linear, occurring in association with cephalhematomas and usually involving the parietal bones. Intracranial hemorrhage following birth trauma may occur in the epidural space, the subarachnoid space, or the subdural space, or within the brain. Injury to the peripheral nerves in newborn is usually caused by excessive traction or direct compression of nerves during delivery. The nerves most commonly involved are the brachial plexus, facial nerve, and phrenic nerve.
