[Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of children with dysmelia].
Since 1979 prenatal ultrasonography is a screening method in Germany. The examination of head, thorax and femur is now established as a routine method.


OBJECTIVE
The evaluation of the effectiveness and the consequences of an early prenatal diagnosis of foetal limb deficiencies.


METHODS
From 1989-1994 we had 403 children with 207 minor or 196 major limb deficiencies. Questionnaires were sent to those 196 parents of children with major diseases 134 cases (68%) of children with limb deficiencies could be analysed. The average age of the mother at birth was 27.5 years and the age of the father was 30.5 years.


RESULTS
61 children had deficiencies of the upper limb. another 61 of the lower limbs and 12 had combined defects of the limbs. The mothers had 5.6 (1-15) prenatal ultrasounds examinations. In 63% (n = 82) these were performed by the obstetric practitioners, in 30% in departments of obstetrics and 7% in a university hospital. In 5.2% only, the limb deficiency was diagnosed antenataly.


CONCLUSIONS
If there are any unclear findings the women should be sent to a centre of prenatal diagnostics. In cases of congenital deficiencies of the limbs there is the possibility] for the parents to combined to combined consultation of the obstetrician, the human genetic and the orthopaedic to plan the treatment and talk about all consequences.
Thomsen
M
M
Sektion Kinderorthopädie, Abteilung Orthopädie I der Stiftung Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Heidelberg.
Gnirs
J
J
Carstens
C
C
Sabo
D
D
Niethard
F U
FU
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004480:Ectromelia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal