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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in the Ovine Model
Published on: October 5, 2009
Occiput-spine relationship: shoulders are more important than head
A Svelato1, A Ragusa, P Alimondi
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massa Carrara General Hospital, Massa Carrara, Italy. alessandrosvelato@virgilio.it.
Objective:
To understand the role of fetal spine position in determining a fetal head position at the time of birth and modality of delivery.
Patients And Methods:
This was a multicenter prospective observational study. Fetal occiput and spine position were evaluated by intrapartum ultrasound. Eighty-six women were eligible for inclusion in the study. Occiput rotational movements and modality of delivery in relation to the fetal spine position were investigated.
Results:
At the beginning of labor, fetal occiput was in a posterior position in 52.3% of cases and, in 81.5% of cases the spine was in an anterior transverse position. At birth, occiput and spine were both in an anterior position in 90.4% of cases. The rate of cesarean sections in the SP group was significantly higher than the rate in the SAT group (50% vs. 8%, p < 0.0007). Instead, the rate of vaginal deliveries without intervention in the SP group was significantly lower than the rate in the SA group (14% vs. 71%, p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
Fetal spine position could have an important role in determining fetal occiput position at birth. Spine position might play a crucial role in the outcome of delivery.
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