Intrauterine fetal death due to umbilical cord torsion.

We report a case of intrauterine fetal death due to torsion of the umbilical cord. Umbilical cord torsion has usually been regarded as secondary to fetal death or cord constriction or due to a lack or abnormality of Wharton's jelly. A postmortem examination showed torsion of the umbilical cord at the placental end in a cord without constriction and with normal Wharton's jelly. We therefore suggest that umbilical cord torsion in the absence of predisposing constriction or abnormality of Wharton's jelly can obstruct the umbilical blood vessels and cause intrauterine death.