The umbilical cord complications of true knots, nuchal coils, and cords around the body: Report from the collaborative study of cerebral palsy

Abstract

In summary, it was found in a review of 17,190 deliveries, that in the cord complications, true knots occurred in 1.05 per cent, nuchal coils occurred in 24.6 per cent, and cord around the body in 2.0 per cent. The incidence of these three cord complications is not related to maternal age, parity, or other congenital malformations, but was increased in Caucasian women and when there were long umbilical cords. They were less frequently associated with small infants and small placentas. There was an increased incidence of abruptio placentae with cords around the body. There was a lower oneminute Apgar score with these cord complications, but no difference was found in the 5 minute Apgar scores or in the one year neurological examination in comparison with the control group. The Apgar score was lower at one minute when the cords were pulled tightly around the neck than when they were loose. Stillbirth deliveries were associated with a higher incidence of true cord knots.