Amniotic band syndrome: Case report

Abstract

Amniotic band syndrome (ABS) is a group of rare congenital abnormalities caused by wrapping of parts of the foetus by fibrous amniotic bands during intrauterine life. Objective: To emphasise the importance of a timely diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the patient. Materials and Methods: We used medical records of a hospitalized newborn at the Clinic for Children's Internal Diseases Nis. We applied a descriptive method. Case report: A male newborn, delivered in the 33rd week of gestation, APGAR SCORE 7/8, birth weight 1550g, birth length 43 cm, one day old. The newborn child was transferred from the Gynaecological Clinic Nis to the Clinic for Children's Internal Diseases Nis. The child had suspected infection, respiratory distress syndrome and congenital malformations of limbs with either lacking or deformed hand phalanges. The baby was born by Caesarean section because of the umbilical cord prolapse. The newborn started breeding following a short reanimation. Prenatal ultrasound proved no abnormalities of the foetus. At admission, the newborn had normal physiological findings except for conductivities in both eyes, a lack of some hand phalanges and weaker primitive reflex response. Radiological findings of the hands indicated the absence or reduced size of the individual phalanges, deformities of the head and diaphysis of some hand phalanges of both hands, as well as the presence of soft tissue shadow in the region of the distal phalange of the third finger of the left hand. A paediatric surgeon confirmed the presence of Amniotic band syndrome after physical examination and radiological findings. Cytogenetic study found a normal male karyotype. The presence of abnormalities of other organ systems was excluded with cardiology, nephrology and neonatal examination. Conclusion: We need to think about the Amniotic band syndrome when the infant has visible congenital abnormalities. Ultrasound prenatal diagnosis is very important, but not always sufficiently sensitive in detecting small abnormalities. A multidisciplinary approach is also important in both diagnosis and treatment, depending on the clinical picture.