Does the minor trauma during pregnancy have any effect on perinatal outcome

Objective:  Women having major trauma during pregnancy are at increased risk for both maternal and fetal morbidity. However, the association between minor trauma and adverse perinatal outcomes is still unknown. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the incidence of minor trauma in pregnancy and effect on the outcomes of pregnancy. Methods:  The data of patients, who were admitted to the emergency service of Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women’s Health Training and Research Hospital between January 2013 and December 2014, were evaluated. A total of 283 patients (0.3%), who had minor trauma during pregnancy, were included in the study. Demographic and obstetric data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Additionally, antenatal complications and pregnancy outcomes were evaluated in 188 patients, who were followed during pregnancy and delivered their babies at our hospital Results:  During the study period, of 105,727 women who were admitted to the emergency service of our hospital, 283 (0.3%) had minor trauma during pregnancy. The causes of minor trauma, in order of frequency, included home accidents (81.3%), domestic violence (9.9%) and traffic accidents (8.8%). Preterm delivery has been the most frequently antenatal complication observed in these patients (15.4%). Conclusion:  Home accidents and domestic violence are the most common causes of minor trauma during pregnancy, and the patients are particularly at risk during the second trimester. The patients must be cautioned regarding the risk of preterm delivery and advised to attend regular pregnancy follow-up visits due to the fact that these patients have a higher risk of preterm delivery. Key words:  Minor trauma, pregnancy, antenatal complication, preterm delivery