Incidence of Shoulder Dystocia and Risk Factors for Recurrence in the Subsequent Pregnancy—A Historical Register-Based Cohort Study

( Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand . 2024;103(10):1975–1984. doi:10.1111/aogs.14784) Shoulder dystocia (SD) is an unusual obstetric issue in which the front shoulder gets stuck behind the pubic bone following the delivery of the fetal head. It is associated with significant risks for both the newborn and the mother, such as brachial plexus injury, fractures, lack of oxygen, and excessive bleeding after childbirth. It occurs in 0.2% to 3% of cases and is usually described as an inability to deliver the shoulders using gentle traction, necessitating further actions. Maternal obesity, diabetes, macrosomia, labor induction, prolonged labor, and operative vaginal delivery are all risk factors for primary SD. The risk of recurrence varies from 1% to 25%, with previous SD and higher birth weight plays a significant role.