Published online Jan 6, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i1.91
Peer-review started: June 15, 2020
First decision: September 13, 2020
Revised: October 10, 2020
Accepted: November 13, 2020
Article in press: November 13, 2020
Published online: January 6, 2021
Processing time: 200 Days and 5.5 Hours
Although the incidence of postpartum pubic symphysis separation is not high, the pain and mobility disorders caused by it seriously affect the quality of life of women. However, current research has not elucidated the etiology and treatment of this disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether increased relaxin (RLX) levels were a risk factor for pubic symphysis separation, and whether other factors were involved.
To study the association between RLX and peripartum pubic symphysis separation, and to evaluate other factors that might affect this association. In the future, we hope to predict the risk of pubic symphysis diastasis by determining RLX levels and controlling the possible factors involved, in order to reduce the incidence of postpartum pubic symphysis separation.
We studied the relationships between RLX levels/other factors and the occurrence of pubic symphysis separation, and determined that maternal RLX levels and neonatal weight were risk factors for symphysis pubis separation. This information can be used to guide clinical judgment on the risk of pubic symphysis separation, and thereby reduce its incidence.
We performed a cross-sectional study on pregnant women between April 2019 and January 2020. Baseline demographic characteristics, including gestational age, weight, neonatal weight, delivery mode and duration of the first and second stages of labor, were recorded, as well as the pubic symphysis separation, maternal capability for daily life activities, and pain scores. Several statistical methods were used to analyze the data. Previous studies did not include as many factors as we have shown herein, and investigators did not conduct comparative studies.
In the present study, it was found that RLX levels and neonatal weight were risk factors for peripartum separation of the pubic symphysis. We wished to determine the possible pathogenic factors leading to symphysis pubis separation; however, the sample size of our study was not large, and further research is needed.
Serum RLX levels and neonatal weight were associated with the occurrence, but not the severity, of peripartum pubic symphysis separation.
In our future studies, we will expand the sample size to further explore the role of RLX levels in peripartum pubic symphysis separation. We will also continue to observe the significant changes in RLX levels in peripartum pubic symphysis separation and subsequent healing.