ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 5

Blows to the Maternal Abdomen Causing Fetál Demise: Report of Three Cases and a Review of the Literature
Harvey, CM
Deputy Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Tarrant County District, TX

Ribe, JK
Deputy Medical Examiner, Department of Coroner, Los Angeles County, CA

Teggatz, JR
Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Milwaukee County, WI

(Received 11 March 1993; accepted 6 April 1993)

Abstract

Traumatic abruption results in 6% of third-trimester gravidas who are hit or kicked in the abdomen during assaults. Three cases are presented in which blows inflicted to the abdomen of pregnant women in their third trimester resulted in the death of the fetus due to abruptio placentae. Two cases were domestic altercations while one was a third-party criminal assault. In all cases the gravida herself escaped significant intra-abdominal injury, and external abdominal findings were minimal. The clinical signs were a history of loss of fetal movements shortly after the assault and loss of fetal heart tones within hours after the assault. One patient had vaginal bleeding; one had uterine contractions. In the cases of domestic abuse, both women initially gave false histories of how the injury occurred.

Keywords:
pathology and biology, abruptio placentae, fetal death, domestic abuse

Paper ID: JFS13512J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13512J
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