Shoulder Dystocia – Trauma to the Skeleton of the Baby

In efforts to deliver a child when there has been an unanticipated shoulder dystocia there may be the deliberate or accidental fracture of the infant’s bones. One manner of delivery advocated in the presence of an unanticipated shoulder dystocia is the deliberate fracturing of the baby’s clavicle.

More often in the rush to deliver, the baby, excessive force is employed and the clavicle, arms, legs or other bones of the infant are broken.