Obstetrical Nerve Injury
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Volume 31 Spring 2008 Obstetrical Nerve Injury Alison McDonald, MD, Obstetrical Resident Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, UWO Edited by Renato Natale, MD, FRCSC Chief, Dept. of Obstetrics, London Hospitals Obstetrical Co-Director, Perinatal Outreach Program of Southwestern Ontario Introduction which generally resolves quickly via remyelination. In more serious injuries, there lthough neurologic injury sustained can be axonal damage, which resolves more during labour and delivery are slowly, and can cause permanent impairment relatively rare (0.008-0.92%)1, it is A of nerve function.2 Signs and symptoms of important to prevent these injuries, and to impending nerve damage may be masked in recognize them when they occur. Nerve labour by anaesthesia, or may be dismissed injuries sustained by the obstetric patient are by health care providers who consider them generally short-lived, but can be a cause of part of labour discomfort.2 Also, patients with significant short-term and, more rarely, long- epidural anaesthesia may be unaware of term morbidity. We most often consider discomfort and the need to change position lower extremity neuropathies in association regularly.1 with labour and delivery, but upper extremity injuries can be sustained as well. Neurologic injury can occur during labour, spontaneous Lumbosacral Plexus vaginal delivery, operative vaginal delivery, or The lumbosacral trunk is formed by the L-4 cesarean section. This article will review the and L-5 nerve roots. It travels in close common lower and upper extremity contact with the ala of the sacrum adjacent to neuropathies associated with labour and the sacroiliac joint and is cushioned by the delivery, pertinent neuroanatomy, psoas muscle except at its terminal portion mechanisms of injury, and means of preventing injury during care of the obstetrical patient. The discussion will not include neurologic injury specifically related to obstetrical anaesthesia, although it must be What’s Inside . understood that Obstetrics and Anaesthesia work in concert in our patients’ care. Obstetrical Nerve Injury 1 Newborn Hearing Loss 4 Acute nerve injury may occur as a result of For Your Information: 7 transection, traction, compression, or vascular You Asked Us: 9 injury. Compression or traction on a nerve Upcoming Events: 10 can result in compromised perineural blood flow and resulting ischemia. This can cause focal demyelination and conduction block, Page 2 near the pelvic brim where it is joined by the symptoms of the anteromedial thigh. Motor S-1 nerve root to form the sciatic nerve. It is compromise can cause significant functional here that the plexus becomes susceptible to impairment. Compression of the femoral compression by the fetal head as it descends nerve under the inguinal ligament can occur into the pelvis.2 Radicular symptoms can also with prolonged pushing in extreme hip flexion be caused by bulging or ruptured 4. Since the femoral nerve does not traverse intervertebral discs, trauma, infection, the true pelvis, it is relatively unaffected by inflammation, or muscle spasm.1 factors such as cephalopelvic disproportion which is implicated in lumbosacral trunk and Lumbosacral plexus or trunk injury can cause sciatic lesions.3 foot drop, and other neurologic symptoms consistent with peripheral mononeuropathies Common Peroneal Nerve (single or multiple) of the nerves that branch The common peroneal nerve separates from from the plexus. Risk factors for lumbosacral the posterior tibial branch of the sciatic nerve plexus or trunk injuries include fetal above the popliteal fossa, perforates between macrosomia, malpresentations (occiput the insertions of the gastrocnemius and posterior or brow presentation), and certain plantaris muscles to pass over the lateral pelvic features like platypelloid pelvis, shallow head of fibula and descend down the lateral anterior sacral ala, and flattened sacral calf. Injury to the common peroneal nerve 3 promontory. can result in paresthesias on the dorsa of the feet and lateral calves, as well as foot drop. Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve There have been several cases of peroneal The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve exits the nerve palsy related to prolonged squatting pelvis under the inguinal ligament and then during childbirth5, hyperflexion of the knees passes medial and inferior to the anterior during delivery6, and direct compression of superior iliac spine. It is a pure sensory nerve the nerve over the fibular head by the patient which supplies the anterolateral thigh. Injury holding her own legs with fingers placed over to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve causes the anterior tibia and palms over the fibular burning, pain, or numbness of the head.7 Certain types of stirrups which may be anterolateral thigh, known as meralgia used for pushing during the second stage of paresthetica syndrome.4 The lateral femoral labour in patients with epidurals, may also cutaneous nerve is at risk of injury during cause compression of the common peroneal prolonged pushing with hip flexion as the nerve. This seems more likely to occur nerve is compressed under the inguinal though during gynecologic surgery when the ligament. A wide Pfannensteil incision at patient needs to be placed in stirrups for the cesarean section may lead to transection of lithotomy position. the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve 4. Compression injuries due to the use of self- Sciatic Nerve retaining retractors used in abdominal Reports in the gynecology literature suggest gynecologic procedures can also occur. the possibility of sciatic nerve stretch injury in Obstetricians may consider frequent position high lithotomy position with prolonged hip changes in labour, avoidance of prolonged hip hyperflexion and excessive external rotation. flexion, and shortening the pushing time by Certainly this mechanism of injury during allowing for passive descent of the fetus vaginal delivery is plausible as well. The before pushing begins as means of avoiding sciatic nerve may be compressed by the fetal 4 lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury . head at the pelvic brim during descent into the pelvis.3 One case report suggests that Femoral Nerve positioning of the patient undergoing cesarean The femoral nerve emerges from the psoas section in the dorsal supine position with left muscle, travels between psoas and iliacus lateral tilt can apply enough pressure to the muscles, then passes under the inguinal left buttock to cause a sciatic neuropathy, ligament, lateral to the femoral vein and especially if the pressure is prolonged.8 artery. Injury to the femoral nerve can result in quadriceps weakness and/or sensory Page 3 Obturator Nerve plexopathy. Muscle Nerve 2002;26:340-7 The obturator nerve crosses the pelvic brim 3. Vargo MM, Robinson LR, Nicholas JJ, Rulin MC. and may be compressed by the descending 4 Postpartum Femoral Neuropathy: Relic of an fetal head or by forceps. The lithotomy Earlier Era? Arch Phys Med Rehabil position causes angulation of the obturator 1990;71:591-6 1 nerve as it leaves the obturator foramen. Pudendal nerve blocks have also been known 4. Borg-Stein J, Dugan SA, Gruber J. to cause hematomas and entrapment of the Musculoskeletal Aspects of Pregnancy. Am J obturator nerve.1 Phys Med Rehabil 2005;84:180-92 5. Babayev M, Bodack MP, Creatura C. Common Upper Extremity Nerves Peroneal Neuropathy Secondary to Squatting The upper extremities of obstetrical patients During Childbirth. Obstet Gynecol can also be affected by neurologic injury. For 1998;91(5):830-1 the patient undergoing cesarean section under general anaesthesia, the usual arm 6. Colachis SC, Pease WS, Johnson EW. A positioning risks apply. The brachial plexus preventable cause of foot drop during childbirth. can be injured by improper arm positioning Am J Obstet Gynecol 1994;171(1):270-1 including hyperabduction or positioning of the 7. Adornato BT, Carlini WG. “Pushing palsy”: A armboards below the level of the operating case of self-induced bilateral peroneal palsy table. Inadequate or improper padding over during natural childbirth. Neurology the bony prominences of the elbow may result 1992;42:936-7 in ulnar nerve injury. Radial nerve injury has been reported with use of the birthing bar 8. Roy S, Levine AB, Herbison GJ, Jacobs SR. when patients position their arms to rest on Intraoperative Positioning During Cesarean as a the bar directly across the spiral groove of the Cause of Sciatic Neuropathy. Obstet Gynecol humerus.9 2002;99:652-3 Nerve injury in the obstetrical patient must be 9. Roubal PJ, Chavinson AH, LaGrandeur RM. a consideration by obstetricians. It is Bilateral Radial Nerve Palsies from Use of the Standard Birthing Bar. Obstet Gynecol important to prevent these injuries by 1996;87(5):820-1 avoiding prolonged hyperflexion and abduction of the hips during birth. This may be accomplished by allowing for passive descent of the fetal head into the pelvis before pushing begins. However, this technique may not be successful in preventing nerve injuries related to compression of nerves in the pelvis by the fetal head. Most of the nerve injuries sustained by our Did you know . obstetrical patients will be short-lived and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) most often spontaneously resolve. Patients with motor impairments, or with longer-lived Instructor Courses may be requested through symptoms may be aided by referral to a the St. Joseph's Health Centre Respiratory physiatrist, neurologist, or physical therapist. Therapy Department, provided there