Consequences of Amniotic Band Syndrome

Sonography may show an aberrant band or sheet of tissue attached to the fetus with secondary deformity. Even when a band is not visualized the non-embryological distribution of the abnormalities is highly suggestive of the diagnosis of ABS. the manifestations of ABS are protean and any part of the fetal body may be affected/amputated.


 Head-
Clefts Fig.1
Encephalocele
Calvarial defects
Anencephaly
Hydrocephalus. Fig 2

Fig 1                        Fig 2




Face-
‘Slash’ defects
Atypical facial, lip and palatal clefts.

 Thorax-
Slash defects with secondary deformity, e.g. exteriorisation of heart
Chest deformity — may cause secondary lung hypoplasia.


Spine-
Kyphosis Fig 3
Scoliosis Fig 3
Meningomyelocele
Other rotational anomalies
Amputation of lower spine.


 Fig 3


Abdomen-
‘Slash’ defects
Omphalocele
Gastropleuroschisis
(exteriorization of bowel, liver and heart without a covering)
Imperforate anus. Fig 4

 fig 4



Genitalia-
Amputation
Malformed.

Limbs-
Clubfoot  Fig 5
Limb constriction with elphantiasis
Amputation
Distal syndactyly. Fig 6


Fig 5                                                        Fig. 6





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