Hip Dislocation and Dystocia in Early Medieval Times

Possible Evidence of Labor Maneuver

Abstract

BACKGROUND: 

In ancient times, maternal mortality would occur frequently, particularly during labor. Evidence of dystocia resulting in the death of a pregnant woman is very infrequent in paleopathologic literature, with only a few cases being demonstrated.

CASE: 

In the early medieval site of Casserres, the skeleton of a young woman with a fetus in the pelvic region was found. Some abnormal findings of the maternal skeleton were evaluated, including a sacral anomaly, femoral head wound, the rare position of the lower left limb with the femoral head dislodged anteriorly and cephalad from the socket, and a fibular fracture.

CONCLUSION: 

Examining the anomalies all together, a case of anterior hip dislocation related to a McRoberts-like maneuver performed during labor is a plausible explanation of the findings.

In Brief

An archeologic case of possible shoulder dystocia in which hip dislocation is hypothesized in association with a McRoberts-like maneuver.