[Early amnion rupture and fetal and newborn defects as an obstetrical and pathomorphological problem].

OBJECTIVES

Early amnion rupture (EAR, EARS, EAROD) may be the cause of amniotic bands and sheets development, which may lead to different fetal defects--from minor finger amputation, chiloschisis or palatoschisis to major amputation, acranius, deep paroschisis or broad body covering cleavage.

DESIGN

The aim of this report was to analyse cases of fetal malformation, which might have been caused by EARS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 3173 autopsies performed within a span of 14 years (1989-2003).

RESULTS

Among 744 cases of malformations 14 cases of fetuses and newborns presented developmental anomalies, which probably were the consequences of EARS.

CONCLUSIONS

The EARS is probably more frequent than it is generally presumed, but it is very often impossible to find remnants of bands and sheets. Nevertheless, the presence of at least two typical anomalies excludes a different cause than early amnion rupture and amniotic bands.