Fractured clavicle in the newborn

Definition:

Fracture of the newborn's clavicle during difficult vaginal deliveries.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

This condition is fairly common during difficult vaginal deliveries. A clavicle fracture can occur either during difficult delivery of the shoulders in a vertex (head first) delivery or during breech (feet first) delivery when the arms are extended above the head.