Incarceration of the gravid uterus

Retroversion of the first trimester uterus occurs in 6 to 19 per cent of all pregnancies and usually does not cause problems. If the uterus remains retroverted as the pregnancy advances, it may become wedged into the pelvic cavity. This complication is referred to as uterine incarceration which can lead to spontaneous abortion, preterm labor, uterine dystocia, and inadvertent incision into the cervix or the bladder during cesarean section in cases of unrecognized incarceration. Seven cases of uterine incarceration are presented with a detailed review including clinical signs and symptoms, physical findings, ultrasound findings, and treatment modalities for each stage of pregnancy. Moreover, we present a new method of treatment for second trimester uterine incarceration.