[Skin dimpling: a complication of amniocentesis]

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Dermatology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Second trimester amniocentesis is a common prenatal diagnostic procedure for congenital disorders.
• Historically, needle puncture complications included cutaneous lesions, with reported incidences ranging from 0.1% to 9% before real-time ultrasonography.
• The incidence of such lesions after the advent of real-time ultrasonography is not well-documented.

Observation:

• This report details eight children presenting with characteristic skin dimpling.
• These dimples were a direct result of fetal needle puncture during second trimester amniocentesis.
• The findings highlight that current amniocentesis techniques have not entirely eradicated the risk of fetal scarring.

Findings:

• Fetal skin dimpling is a documented complication of second trimester amniocentesis.
• Real-time ultrasonography has not eliminated the risk of needle-induced fetal cutaneous lesions.
• The actual incidence of post-amniocentesis cutaneous lesions in the era of ultrasonography remains unknown.

Implications:

• Dermatologists, pediatricians, and obstetricians must be aware of fetal needle puncture scarring as a potential complication.
• This complication can have significant medical and legal ramifications.
• Increased awareness may lead to improved patient counseling and potentially modified procedural techniques.