Brachial plexus injury is the most frequent serious neonatal morbidity associated with shoulder dystocia. The incidence varies substantially between studies (2–16% of births complicated by shoulder dystocia[5-8]) suggesting that at least some of these injuries might be preventable.[8] Aside from any personal harm and health costs, poor outcomes can result in very significant litigation costs. In the USA shoulder dystocia is the second most commonly litigated complication of childbirth,[9] and in England, the NHS Litigation Authority paid more than £100 million in legal compensation over a decade for preventable harm associated with shoulder dystocia.[10]
Shoulder dystocia training has been recommended since 1998[11] but until recently there has been no clear evidence on the best method of training. Some shoulder dystocia training has been demonstrated to improve knowledge,[12] confidence[13] and management of simulated shoulder dystocia.[14-17] However, the effect of training on perinatal outcomes has been conflicting; there are reports of improvements after training,[8, 18, 19] whereas other training has been associated with no change in outcomes,[20] or even an increase in poor neonatal outcomes after training had been introduced.[21] Practice does not make perfect if it is the wrong practice.
The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term effect of evidence-based shoulder dystocia training on the management of, and neonatal outcomes following, shoulder dystocia.[8]