Traumatic Birth Syndrome
This is a condition which describes the potential damage to an infants spine which may result from the birth process. This condition has been well documented in the medical research.
Dr. G. Gutmann, a German medical researcher discovered that over 80% of the infants he examined shortly after birth were suffering from injury to the cervical spine (the neck), causing all types of health problems.
Dr. Abraham Towbin, from the Harvard Medical School Department of Pathology presented research at the 18th Annual Meeting of the American Academy For Cerebral Palsy. In his research, he states that “the birth process, even under optimal conditions, is potentially a traumatic, crippling event for the baby.” He continues “Spinal cord and brain stem injuries occur often during the process of birth but frequently escape diagnosis and death may occur during delivery or, with respiratory function depressed, a short period after birth. Infants who survive the initial effects, may be left with severe nervous system defects.
Of particular importance may be unresolved compression in the suboccipital region, (the base of the skull/top of the neck). Motion restrictions and asymmetries in this region are categorised as kinematic imbalances caused by suboccipital strain, otherwise known as KISS syndrome. This too, is a very well documented condition throughout the medical literature. Medical practioner, Dr Heiner Beiderman refers to this condition extensively in his book, ‘Manual Therapy in Children‘. (1) Dr. Beiderman has been assessing and adjusting infants for nearly 40 years, and is a firm believer of the importance of manual medicine for infants and children.
(1) Bierdermann H. The KISS Syndrome: symptoms and signs. In: Biedermann H (ed) Manual Therapy in Children. New York NY: Churchill Livingstone, 2004; pp. 285-302
If you are concerned that your infant may be suffering from birth trauma, please call our practice on 97876999 and we can perform a thorough orthopaedic and neurological assessment of your child. (The initial examination for children in our practice is free of charge).
