The incidence of birth injuries decreased in Finland between 1997 and 2017: A nationwide register study.

AIM: Birth injuries are rare complications that can have a significant impact on neonates and their families. This population-based study describes the rates and trends of all birth injuries in Finland over a 21-year period.

METHODS: The study is based on a national Medical Birth Register that includes all live-born neonates of more than 22 gestational weeks or 500 g who were born in Finland between 1997 and 2017. The ICD-10 codes of the birth injuries were obtained from the Finnish Medical Birth Register and the Care Register for Health Care. The incidence of birth injury, changes over time and incidence at different gestational ages were determined.

RESULTS: A total of 28 551 birth injuries were diagnosed, and the total incidence decreased from 34.0 to 16.6 per 1000 live births. The incidence of clavicle fracture, cephalohaematoma, and Erb paralysis decreased while the incidence of chignon and epicranial subaponeurotic haemorrhage increased.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of birth injury halved during the 20-year study period. This was mainly due to a decrease in the number of clavicle fractures. The incidence of birth injury increased with gestational age, and most injuries occurred after 37 weeks of gestation.