Traumatizing effect of breech delivery on infants with spina bifida.

About one quarter of babies with myelomeningocele are born by breech delivery. Dissection of the locomotor system tissues of 49 spina bifida babies born by normal delivery and 15 spina bifida babies born by breech delivery revealed that the latter type of labor causes frequent and often severe trauma to the already handicapped muscles and nerves of the lower extremities. In cases where the birth damage is extensive, the baby's chances of survival may be reduced. The possibility should be considered that this type of labor, which traumatizes the baby's muscles and nerves, may influence the postnatal locomotor function and further contribute to the child's disability.