Shoulder dislocation in a very-low-birth-weight infant: case report and review of the literature

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Abstract

Shoulder dislocation in a preterm infant is very rare. We report a case of a preterm infant, with gestational age of 25 2/7 weeks and birth weight of 910 g, with anterior shoulder dislocation after breech delivery. The infant was successfully treated with closed reduction. In general, long-term outcome of shoulder dislocation in these infants is good. However, prompt recognition and treatment of the dislocated shoulder are essential to maintain normal shoulder girdle function and to prevent functional disability.

Section snippets

Case report

A pregnant woman was admitted to the hospital at 24 4/7 weeks of gestation because of preterm contractions and bulging membranes with an appropriately grown fetus in breech presentation. Corticosteroids, antibiotics, and tocolitics were prescribed. Despite antibiotic therapy, an intrauterine infection developed (increased temperature, leucocytes, and C-reactive protein), and at 25 2/7 weeks, vaginal delivery was accepted in breech position. The membranes were ruptured artificially, and

Discussion

This is the first description of a shoulder dislocation directly after birth in a very preterm infant. Early recognition led to timely reduction without motor sequelae. Our findings are in agreement with the available literature on case reports describing breech presentation and assisted birth as risk factors. Beside our case, 67 newborns with shoulder dislocation were described in 6 reports [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]. None of the infants was preterm like our patient. Only 2 infants,

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