Clinical significance of the umbilical cord twist.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine the clinical significance of the umbilical cord twist direction.


METHODS
Two hundred singleton third-trimester placentas with a right umbilical cord twist and 200 placentas with a left umbilical cord twist, which was determined by pathologic examination, were included. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared with the use of Fisher's exact and Mann Whitney U tests; a probability value of <.05 considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
Placenta previa was more common in patients with a right umbilical cord twist compared with a left umbilical cord twist (6.0% vs 1.5%; P<.05). There was a trend towards an increased incidence of single umbilical artery in patients with a right umbilical cord twist (2.5% vs 0%; P=.06). The incidence of fetal demise, intrauterine growth restriction, chromosomal abnormalities, congenital anomalies, preterm delivery, infant gender, birth weight, maternal age, and parity were similar between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Placenta previa is associated with a right umbilical cord twist.
Kalish
Robin B
RB
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pathology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. robinkal@aol.com
Hunter
Tiffany
T
Sharma
Geeta
G
Baergen
Rebecca N
RN
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D010923:Placenta Previa / Q000473:pathology; D018457:Placenta, Retained / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology