Pregnancy outcomes after orthopedic trauma

Lisa K. Cannada, Ping Pan, Brian M. Casey, Donald D. McIntire, Shahid Shafi, Kenneth J. Leveno

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: This study was performed to determine the effects of orthopedic trauma on pregnancy outcomes in pregnant trauma patients. Methods: This was an observational study completed after electronically linking databases for the obstetric service and the trauma service at our Level I trauma center. All pregnant women who presented during the years 1995 to 2007 were eligible for inclusion. Selected pregnancy outcomes in women who delivered at our trauma center during or after their trauma admission were evaluated according to the presence of orthopedic injuries. Statistical analyses were performed using χ2, Student's t test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test; and p < 0.05 are considered statistically significant. Results: There were 65 pregnant women with orthopedic injuries (6%) and 990 without orthopedic injuries. Women with orthopedic trauma had an average gestational age of 28 weeks versus 31 weeks for women without orthopedic trauma. Compared with the patients without orthopedic injuries, patients with orthopedic injuries had a significant increased risk of preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation (31% vs. 3%; p < 0.001), an increased risk of placental abruption (8% vs. 1%; p < 0.001), and an increased risk of perinatal mortality (8% vs. 1%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that traumatized pregnant women with orthopedic injuries are high-risk obstetrical patients and may benefit from referral to a medical center capable of handling both the primary injury and the potential preterm birth associated with the injury.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)694-698
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care
Volume69
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2010

Keywords

  • Abruption
  • Pelvic fractures
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy complications
  • Trauma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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