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.