Revisiting amniotic band sequence: a wide spectrum of manifestations

Objective: To describe the spectrum of clinical deformities related to amniotic band sequence (ABS), ranging from mild to severe.

Methods: Retrospective evaluation of 9 cases of ABS managed during a 4-year period (February 2006 to April 2010) in a tertiary hospital.

Results: The median gestational age at prenatal diagnosis was 15 weeks (range 11-26). Only 2 patients had clinical prenatal evidence of amnion rupture. In the other 5 cases the diagnosis of ABS was established prenatally based on fetal structural abnormalities. These abnormalities included: (1) upper limb defects: syndactyly, amputation at the level of phalanges or first metacarpal or forearm; (2) inferior extremities defects: tallus equinovarus and flexed knee, and constriction ring; (3) umbilical cord strangulation, and (4) acrania.

Conclusion: ABS is a polymorphous syndrome and recognizing its various manifestations can be of help in prenatal identification.