NUCHAL ARMS AND BREECH PRESENTATION

Nuchal arms are a serious complication of breech delivery and can be detected during early labor sonographically (1).

The majority of nuchal arms seen in early labor do, however, spontaneously reduce in early labor and not complicate the second stage. If they do not reduce, cesarean section has been recommended (2).

REFERENCES

1. Sherer DM, Perillo AM, Vial C. Sonographic detection of a nuchal arm in the intrapartum assessment of the breech-presenting fetus. J Ultrasound Med 1993;12:524.
2. Sherer DM, Menashe M, Palti Z et.al. Radiologic evidence of a nuchal arm in the breech-presenting fetuses. Am J Perinatol 1997;14:315-316.