What is a key complication for a fetal injury resulting from shoulder dystocia?

Fetal injury due to shoulder dystocia is primarily characterized by the risk of brachial plexus palsy. This condition occurs when the upper nerves of the brachial plexus are damaged during delivery, usually as a result of excessive traction applied to the fetal head in order to release the shoulders that have become lodged behind the mother's pubic symphysis.

During shoulder dystocia, the delivery team may need to manipulate the fetus to resolve the obstruction, and such maneuvers can stretch or tear the nerves of the brachial plexus. This can lead to varying degrees of motor function loss in the affected arm, resulting in conditions like Erb's palsy, which is characterized by weakness or paralysis in the arm.

Other potential complications associated with shoulder dystocia are significant but are not direct fetal injuries in the same manner as brachial plexus palsy. For instance, gestational diabetes can predispose a fetus to macrosomia, increasing the likelihood of shoulder dystocia but is not a direct complication of the dystocia itself. Maternal hemorrhage primarily concerns maternal health and may arise during obstetric emergencies, but does not directly relate to a specific fetal injury stemming from shoulder dystocia. Amniotic fluid embolism is a