1211 SHORT CORDS, LONG CORDS… WHO CARES?

Abstract

Both short and long umbilical cords have been associated with obstetrical complications but the factors controlling longitudinal cord growth have remained unknown. Recent observations suggest that cord length is a reflection of fetal movements. If this were true, cord length should be a useful diagnostic tool and could suggest specific congenital anomalies. Using pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats in the last third of gestation, we induced the following experimental situations: A fetal restraint by oligohydramnios (n=17), B fetal paralysis with curare (polyhydramnios, n=18), C extrauterine pregnancy with fetus free in the abdominal cavity (n=18) and D, as in C but fetus fixed to the uterine horn, close to the placental implantation site (n=8). At term, the cords were measured with a fine caliper under standard conditions. When compared to littermate controls, A & B fetuses had shorter cords (p <.01), C fetuses had longer cords (p <.01) and in D fetuses the cords were either shorter or unaffected. These results support the contention that longitudinal cord growth is governed by tensile forces and depends both on fetal motion and available intrauterine space (Ped.Res. 14:586,1980). A short cord may be a useful marker of conditions associated with impaired fetal movement such as neuromuscular disease or oligohydramnios. Similarly, long cords may signal fetal hyperkinesia.