FETAL CNS DAMAGE AFTER EXPOSURE TO MATERNAL TRAUMA DURING PREGNANCY

Nine case reports are presented to indicate the possible effects of ma ternal trauma on surviving fetuses. Previous reports have only address ed fatal consequences. Traumata occurred between gestational weeks 23 and 37. Seven mothers had motor-vehicle accidents (MVA), two had blunt abdominal traumata. Four mothers suffered severe injuries, such as ce rebral contusion, fractures or placental abruption leading to emergenc y Cesarean section. Premature uterine contractions were observed in fi ve mothers and hemorrhage in two. The nine children were born after 30 to 40 weeks of gestation. Seven had normal postpartal vital signs, on e required resuscitation and one premature needed assisted ventilation . Clinical symptoms were variable: movement disorders (n = 3), hydroce phalus (n = 2), convulsions (n = 1), cerebral palsy (n = 1), normal (n = 3). Follow-up ranged from 7 months to 5 years. Neuroimaging reveale d periventricular leukomalacia (n = 2), localized vascular infarctions (n = 2), hemorrhage (n = 1), hydrocephalus (n = 2) and global brain d amage (n = 1). The causative role of maternal accidents was extremely likely in one patient, and probable but unproved in the remaining case s.