The Importance of Configuration for Understanding Birth Trauma Configuration

digital pressure; +++ = bones overlapping and not separable with digital pressure. I distinguish the following classification of degrees of configurations [4,5]: 1 (light) - overlapping of bones over one of sutures, 2 (moderate) - overlapping of bones within 2-3 sutures, 3 (expressed) - overlapping of bones over 4-5 sutures. It is believed that when traction with obstetric forceps and a vacuum extractor with a moderate and pronounced configuration increases the risk of birth damage to the fetus [3]. Our studies have shown that with an increase in the degree of configuration, the frequency of many brain lesions, primarily leptomeningeal hemorrhages, increases [4]. ABSTRACT The relationship between the configuration (molding) of the fetal head and birth traumatic injuries is considered. It is shown that the configuration includes a complex of changes in the skull and brain of a compensatory-adaptive nature. The mechanisms are considered that, in a pathological configuration, lead to various traumatic injuries. To understand the cause of birth trauma, it is necessary to explain why the physiological configuration becomes pathological. The importance of control over the state of configuration during childbirth is emphasized.


Types and Degree of Configuration
It is impossible to understand the reason and warn ВT if you do not know the state of the fetal head configuration during labor.
The first and required knowledge is the degree of configuration that can be determined. You can determine the type of pathological configuration. There is the following classification of degrees of configuration [2,3]: none (0) = bones normally separated; + = bones touching; ++ = bones overlapping but easily separated with digital pressure; +++ = bones overlapping and not separable with digital pressure. I distinguish the following classification of degrees of configurations [4,5]: 1 (light) -overlapping of bones over one of sutures, 2 (moderate) -overlapping of bones within 2-3 sutures, 3 (expressed) -overlapping of bones over 4-5 sutures. It is believed that when traction with obstetric forceps and a vacuum extractor with a moderate and pronounced configuration increases the risk of birth damage to the fetus [3]. Our studies have shown that with an increase in the degree of configuration, the frequency of many brain lesions, primarily leptomeningeal hemorrhages, increases [4].

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT
The relationship between the configuration (molding) of the fetal head and birth traumatic injuries is considered. It is shown that the configuration includes a complex of changes in the skull and brain of a compensatory-adaptive nature. The mechanisms are considered that, in a pathological configuration, lead to various traumatic injuries.
To understand the cause of birth trauma, it is necessary to explain why the physiological configuration becomes pathological. The importance of control over the state of configuration during childbirth is emphasized.
Clinical studies have shown that with the second and third degrees of the configuration of the head, early deceleration is observed: with the second degree, the appearance of early decelerations, and with the third degree, the appearance of early and sporadic decelerations [6]. Light and moderate configurations do not lead to pathological changes but expressed (pathological) degree leads to compression hypoxia of the fetal brain [7] and birth trauma. Clinical and experimental studies have shown that head compression leads to deceleration of cardiac activity [8][9][10]. When does a pathological head configuration occur? In 3 situations. When it is 1) excessive, 2) rapid and 3) asymmetrical [4,5]. These are three types of pathological configuration of the fetal head.

What Does the Head Configuration Depend on?
The nature of the configuration depends on: 1.
The course of childbirth, the forces acting during childbirth,

2.
The state of the birth canal and the mother's pelvis,

3.
Configurability of the fetal head (the ability to undergo configuration, the ability to adapt to the size of the birth canal).
The concept of "configurability" was introduced by D. Muller [11].
The configurability of the head depends on: 1.
The degree of ossification of the skull bones, their density and elasticity,

What Happens When the Head is Configured?
During the configuration, the following changes occur on the part of the skull and brain:

1.
Displacements and various types of overlapping of the skullcap bones.

2.
Changes in the shape of the head and its diameters during labor.

3.
Stretching of the cerebellar tentorium, fax and bridging veins.

4.
Stretching of various structures of the brain.

5.
Narrowing of the superior sagittal sinus.

6.
Pressure of the dura mater on the surface and vessels of the brain.

7.
Moving the mass of the brain inside the skull.

9.
Reorganization of blood circulation in the tissues of the head and in the membranes of the brain. 10. Changes in blood circulation in the substance of the brain.
All these changes occur within physiological limits without harming the child. This configuration is physiological. The fetus, thanks to evolutionary adaptations [12], is able to adapt to these changes in childbirth and, after all the changes in the head, is born healthy. If these changes go beyond the boundaries of adaptive mechanisms, then a pathological configuration occurs, birth traumatic injuries and ВТ. With the control of these changes and knowledge of their norms, ВТ can be prevented.

What is the Mechanism of Connection Configuration with Traumatic Injuries?
The changes in the skull and brain described above with a pathological configuration led to various traumatic injuries. This is presented in more detail in Table 1

Conclusion
To understand the birth process, it is important to know, on the one hand, not only the size of the mother's pelvis, the nature of the contractions, the dilatation of the cervix, the position of the head, etc., but, on the other hand, the process of configuration of the head. The configuration is not only the displacement of the bones of the skullcap, but also the movement of the brain inside the skull, changes in the bridging veins, the degree of tension of the cerebellar tentorium, the value of intracranial pressure, changes in blood circulation in the brain tissue, etc. Only by knowing all the changes in the skull and brain during childbirth can birth traumatic injuries be prevented. With a pathological configuration of the fetal head during childbirth, not only severe traumatic injuries (fractures, ruptures, hemorrhages) occur, but also compression hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. Since these lesions are caused by mechanical factors, they can be attributed to compression hypoxicischemic birth trauma. Conflicts of interest or any financial interest do not exist.