Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026
External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
Published on: June 6, 2020
Fetal femur fracture and external cephalic version
Steven Papp1, Gupreet Dhaliwal, Greg Davies
1Department of Orthopedics, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Background:
Femoral fractures due to birth trauma are extremely rare. External cephalic version is considered a relatively safe alternative when dealing with breech presentation, but it can be associated with complications.
Case:
This patient underwent elective cephalic version for breech presentation at 36 weeks of gestation. Due to concerns of fetal distress after the version, a cesarean delivery was performed. The newborn had a bruised leg at delivery, and X-ray studies confirmed a distal femoral corner fracture.
Conclusion:
This case demonstrates another risk of external cephalic version. Physicians and patients should be aware of this potential complication.
