BLOWS TO THE MATERNAL ABDOMEN CAUSING FETAL DEMISE - REPORT OF 3 CASES AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Traumatic abruption results in 6% of third-trimester gravidas who are hit or kicked in the abdomen during assaults. Three cases are presente d in which blows inflicted to the abdomen of pregnant women in their t hird trimester resulted in the death of the fetus due to abruptio plac entae. Two cases were domestic altercations while one was a third-part y criminal assault. In all cases the gravida herself escaped significa nt intra-abdominal injury, and external abdominal findings were minima l, The clinical signs were a history of loss of fetal movements shortl y after the assault and loss of fetal heart tones within hours after t he assault. One patient had vaginal bleeding; one had uterine contract ions. In the cases of domestic abuse, both women initially gave false histories of how the injury occurred.