Birth Trauma

Birth Trauma

KISS Syndrome: Kinematic Imbalance Due to Sub-occipital Strain in Newborns:
Caused by intrauterine-constraint or the traumas of birth, KISS Syndrome can be reviewed here:
http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ymmt/article/PIIS0161475405000552/fulltext#section6

Manual Therapy in Children: Proposals for an Etiologic Model, Heiner Biedermann, MD

From the excerpt: In research done in the Netherlands, healthy newborns were examined routinely after birth and a noticeable amount of intracerebral lesions were found.In our studies, infants born by cesarean delivery are underrepresented, and even more so if one excludes from this group the breech position, a frequent indication for a cesarean delivery.

A cesarean delivery is no guarantee that the cervical spine was not mechanically strained. Depending on the length of the abdominal incision and the urgency of the operation, the child may have been pulled out forcefully. In most cases the cesarean delivery is at least less demanding on the suboccipital structures than a vaginal delivery.

Studies of the intracranial structures of apparently healthy newborns showed a high percentage of signs of microtrauma of brain stem tissues in the periventricular areas. It seems probable that the exposed structures of the occipito-cervical junction suffer at least as much as the cranium. Wischnik et a. have shown this in experimental studies of the biomechanics of delivery, as have others. The injury of the intracranial and subcranial structures is thus the rule, not the exception. The ability of most newborns to overcome and repair these lesions shows the enormous capacity of the not yet fully developed brain to cope with trauma at this stage.

The optimal development of the brain, which persists well beyond the 16th year, depends on adequate and consistent sensory input. The importance of proprioceptive unbalances for the efficient repair of cerebral lesions becomes evident.
http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ymmt/article/PIIS0161475405000552/fulltext#section2

Treatment of birth trauma injuries is well within the means of current practice in chiropractic and manual medicine.

The effects, frequency and overt damage of birth trauma is perhaps the easiest way to understand why all children need to be checked for spinal misalignments and cranial distortions. Gottlieb, medical researcher in his paper: Neglected spinal cord, brain stem and musculoskeletal injuries stemming from birth trauma has this to add:

Birth trauma remains an underpublicized and, therefore, an undertreated problem. There is a need for further documentation and especially more studies directed toward prevention. In the meantime, manual treatment of birth trauma injuries to the neuromusculoskeletal system could be beneficial to many patients not now receiving such treatment, and it is well within the means of current practice in chiropractic and manual medicine.

Neglected spinal cord, brain stem and musculoskeletal injuries stemming from birth trauma   Gottlieb MS.
J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1993 (Oct);16 (8):537-543

Cranial and other chiropractic adjustments in the conservative treatment of chronic trigeminal neuralgia: A case report Pederick FO, Chiropr J Aust Mar 2005; 35(1): 9-15.

Abstract: This paper describes the successful treatment of an infant with wry neck associated with birth trauma using low force, relatively long-duration cranial adjusting, and soft-tissue techniques to the whole body with special attention to the cervical region, and parental management of home care procedures. Wry neck, or congenital muscular torticollis (CMT), has been a well - recognized condition for centuries. CMT is often associated with plagiocephaly, which has long-term adverse effects on physical and mental functions. A review of some of the literature relating to this condition is provided.

Treatment of an infant with wry neck associated with birth trauma: Case report  Pederick FO, Chiropr J Aust Dec 2004;34(4):123-8.

Abstract: This paper describes the successful treatment of an infant with wry neck associated with birth trauma using low force, relatively long-duration cranial adjusting, and soft-tissue techniques to the whole body with special attention to the cervical region, and parental management of home care procedures. Wry neck, or congenital muscular torticollis (CMT), has been a well - recognized condition for centuries. CMT is often associated with plagiocephaly, which has long-term adverse effects on physical and mental functions. A review of some of the literature relating to this condition is provided.

Birth Trauma - Antibiotic Abuse - Vaccine Reaction: A Single Case Report.
Phillips CJ, J Am Chiro Assoc Sep 1996; 9: 57-59, 61.

Abstract: No matter how "easy" a pregnancy may appear, the physical trauma that may occur (luring that time will have its own peculiar dangers to the cranial and spinal structures of the infant. Those injuries, if left unattended, may adversely effect the physical, emotional and mental growth and development of the child during the most vital period of their lives. Identifying and addressing the resultant injuries may he a challenge, especially to the uninitiated. Those who choose to accept the challenge are advised to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to address both spinal and cranial injuries. The patient in this case report represents a population of children who have suffered from birth related trauma, overuse of antibiotics and adverse reactions to vaccinations. They are children who need us. Their parents suffer the anguish of being considered neurotic when they initially sense something is wrong and then ignored when they beg for assistance in raising a chronically ill and disabled child. Organized medicine has little to offer these children outside of medication to treat the symptoms and tests to document the dysfunction. It is up to our profession and others like us to step forward and actively do something to improve the lives of both the children and their families.

Suboccipital Strain in Newborns by Dr. Peter Fysh

• The upper cervical spine and atlanto-occipital junction have been identified in previous studies as being the cause of a diversity of clinical findings affecting the newborn infant. This month we review a study by Biedermann in which suboccipital strain is identified as causing a variety of signs and symptoms in a group of 114 young infants. The study, published in the Journal of Manual Medicine, not only identifies the signs and symptoms of the suboccipital strain syndrome, but also highlights the effectiveness of spinal adjustments in correcting the problem

  Suboccipital Strain in Newborns by Dr. Peter Fysh