Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Practice Exam

What is a common characteristic of neonatal shoulder dystocia?

1. Asymmetric crying

2. Erb's palsy

3. Decrease in tone

4. Tachycardia

The correct answer is: Erb's palsy

Neonatal shoulder dystocia is a condition that occurs during childbirth when an infant's shoulder gets stuck behind the mother's pelvic bone after the head has been delivered. One common characteristic associated with this condition is Erb's palsy, which results from damage to the brachial plexus nerves during delivery. This condition often presents when the infant is unable to adequately move the affected arm due to muscle weakness or paralysis, typically affecting the shoulder and upper arm on the side where the dystocia occurred. The development of Erb's palsy can happen as a consequence of the excessive lateral traction applied to the infant's head during delivery to resolve shoulder dystocia. The presence of this type of nerve injury would be evident in the newborn's inability to perform certain movements and could be observed through the asymmetric positioning of the arms during assessment, where the affected arm might hang down or be less active compared to the other arm. In this context, understanding the association between shoulder dystocia and potential complications like Erb's palsy is crucial for neonatal care and intervention strategies. Recognizing these characteristics allows for early identification and appropriate management of the infant who might experience this complication after a difficult delivery.