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Updated: Feb 5, 2026

The 4-vessel Sampling Approach to Integrative Studies of Human Placental Physiology In Vivo
Published on: August 2, 2017
Placental Histology After Minor Trauma in Pregnancy: A Pilot Study
B J van der Knoop1, J P van der Voorn2, Pgj Nikkels3
11 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Objective:
Trauma in pregnancy may cause placental abruption. Consequences of moderate placental injury on neurodevelopment are unknown. The aim was to evaluate placental histology after maternal trauma.
Methods:
A prospective study was conducted at 2 tertiary medical centers in the Netherlands. Placentas from women exposed to maternal trauma ≥ 20 weeks' gestational age were histologically examined. Neurological follow-up of the infants was performed at 1 year of age by means of Alberta Infant Motor Scale. Histological findings were compared to placentas from pregnancies without trauma.
Principal Results:
Thirteen placentas were investigated in the trauma group. The control group consisted of 15 placentas. Placental pathology was seen more often in the trauma cases (11 of the 13) than in the controls (6 of the 15), P = .024. Neurological follow-up was normal.
Conclusions:
In this small population, majority of the placentas showed pathology after minor trauma in pregnancy without consequences for neurodevelopment at 1 year.
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