Head & Neck
Classic nerve palsy presenting with inability to abduct the arm, internally rotated shoulder, and extended elbow. The position is classically described as a "waiter's tip" posture
What is Erb's Palsy (C5-C6)?
Facial nerve palsy in newborns most commonly results from pressure of this delivery device.
What are forceps?
Most common long bone fracture in newborns.
What is a clavicle fracture?
Most common abdominal organ injured during birth trauma.
What is the liver? (subcapsular hematoma)
Birth injury that may present with seizures within hours of delivery.
What is an intracranial hemorrhage?
A Cephalohematoma occurs underneath this layer in the skull.
What is the Periosteum?
Eye finding common after vacuum extraction that usually resolves spontaneously.
What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage?
3 exam findings suggesting clavicle fracture in a newborn.
What are Crepitus, step‑off, and asymmetric Moro reflex?
Thoracic injury presenting with tachypnea, decreased breath sounds, and grunting after birth trauma.
What is a pneumothorax?
Biggest risk factor for shoulder dystocia–related injury.
Birth injury causing a floppy arm with preserved hand grip but poor shoulder/elbow movement.
What is an upper trunk brachial plexus injury?
Unilateral periorbital swelling and proptosis in a newborn born via forceps delivery
What is an orbital roof fracture?
Fracture presenting with arm swelling, decreased arm movement, and pain with palpation.
What is a humeral shaft fracture?
In a low-resource or urgent bedside setting, this simple diagnostic technique can rapidly help identify pneumothorax.
What is transillumination?
Head turned preferentially to one side due to prolonged positioning in the womb resulting in spasm of this muscle.
What is the sternocleidomastoid (torticollis)?
Most common type of skull fracture in newborns after birth trauma.
What is a linear parietal skull fracture?
Temporary inability to close one eye due to injury of this cranial nerve.
What is lagophtalmos due to cranial nerve VII (Facial Nerve) palsy?
Femur fracture in a newborn is most often associated with this delivery type.
What is a breech delivery?
Needle decompression should be performed in this intercostal space at the midclavicular line to quickly evacuate a pneumothorax.
Injury associated with prolonged vacuum use and neonatal shock.
Subgaleal hemorrhage
Subgaleal hemorrhage differs from cephalohematoma because of this key feature.
What is crosses suture lines?
A newborn with unilateral facial asymmetry. The infant can wrinkle the forehead and close both eyes normally, but the mouth deviates when crying.
What is congenital unilateral lower lip palsy (CULLP)?
Injury that can mimic Erb’s palsy due to decreased arm movement.
What is pseudo-paralysis due to clavicle fracture?
A newborn with a difficult delivery develops respiratory distress and paradoxical inward movement of the abdomen during inspiration and if present, frequently associated with brachial plexus injuries.
What is diaphragmatic paralysis from phrenic nerve injury?
Best imaging modality to confirm suspected neonatal skull fracture.
What is a Skull XR?
A term newborn delivered via vacuum extraction initially appears well but develops progressive scalp swelling over several hours. The swelling is diffuse and crosses suture lines. The infant becomes tachycardic and pale.
What is the most dangerous complication AND it's management?
Hypovolemic Shock 2/2 subgaleal hemorrhage. Correct with fluid resuscitation and correcting coagulopathy (FFP and platelets)