Fetal vulva laceration during attempted vaginal breech delivery

Trauma to the fetal vulva and perineum is an infrequent and life-threatening complication of breech presentation. The objective of this case report is to highlight the possibility of such injury, need for proper training of health personnel, and draw attention to the issue of malpractice and litigation. Case Report: Consent for this study and medical photographs was obtained from the patient. We present a case of a 28-year-old G5P1+3 non-alive patient with one previous Caesarean section who presented with antepartum hemorrhage and breech presentation of the fetus at term. She subsequently had emergency repeat lower segment caesarean section done and a live baby was delivered. Baby was examined and perineal and vulva laceration with vulva hematoma seen. This complication was subsequently managed with good outcome. Conclusion: Trauma to the genitalia and perineum of the fetus though a rare complication of delivery can occur as a result of poor health seeking behavior and lack of skilled birth attendants resulting in malpractice. Health Matthew Abubakar Akpa1, Oladele Joshua Alabi2, Simon Peterside Onuche Akogu3, Temitope Olumide Odi4 Affiliations: 1MBBS, FMCOG, MPH Lecturer I Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria; 2MBBS, MPH, FWACP, Department of Community Medicine, Prince Abubakar Audu University Teaching Hospital, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria; 3MBBS, FWCOG Senior Lecturer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria; 4MBBS, FWACS, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Nigeria. Corresponding Author: Dr. Matthew Abubakar Akpa, MBBS, FMCOG, MPH, Lecturer I, College of Health Sciences, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria; Email: matthewakpa@yahoo.com Received: 25 August 2020 Accepted: 20 October 2020 Published: 19 November 2020 education, community sensitization, adequate training of staff, appropriate staffing, and equipping of hospitals can go a long way to avoid this complication.