ABSTRACT
Perineal injury occurs in the majority of women giving birth vaginally and can lead to bleeding, infection, pain, dyspareunia, and worsened quality of life. To reduce the risk of severe tearing, diagnose and repair such trauma, and achieve the best patient outcomes, all maternity care providers need to have a thorough understanding of the perineal and pelvic floor anatomy, the role of episiotomy, how to diagnose perineal tears, and the evidence-based techniques for repairing such trauma. It is also important to be aware of emerging evidence for the reduction of perineal wound infection, early re-suturing in the event of wound dehiscence and care bundles that may reduce the burden of severe perineal trauma.
