Case report: unilateral combined facial nerve and brachial plexus palsies in a neonate following a midlevel forceps delivery.

Abstract

A case is described in which the 2.7-kg fetus of a nonobese primigravid patient, delivered by midlevel forceps manipulation sustained neurapraxias of both the marginal mandibular branch of the seventh cranial nerve and the upper trunks of the ipsilateral brachial plexus. The pregnancy was uneventful, but labor was complicated by an occipitoposterior presentation and a prolonged second stage. Examination of the neonate revealed bruising and skin markings consistent with injury by obstetric forceps and the anatomic location of these marks suggested that cervical and mandibular compression from the forceps, rather than traction by the accoucheur, would account for the observed findings. A review of the English language literature over the past 30 years revealed only four cases in which a combination of facial nerve and brachial plexus injuries could both be linked to obstetric instrumentation.