ABSTRACT
Objective To summarize the characteristics of fetal hand deformity in prenatal two-and three-dimensional u1trasonography. To analyze the causes of missed diagnosis of prenatal u1trasonography in detecting fetal hand deformity. Methods Systematic continuous sequence approach was performed with two-and three-dimensional u1trasonography in 11 854 cases to detect the fetal hand development, deformity and accompanied malformations. Prenatal sonographic features of fetal hand deformities (59 cases) were correlated with the morphology and X-ray characteristics of the delivered fetuses. Results Fifty-nine cases of fetal hand deformity were diagnosed out of 11 854 fetuses by prenatal u1trasonography:44 cases of abnormal wrist posture,1 case of full-ifnger absence, 2 cases of metacarpal and phalanx absence, 3 cases of clinodactyly, 2 cases of forearm and hand absence, 1 case of syndacty, 1 case of polydacty, 5 cases of lethal bone dysplasia. The detection rate was 0.50%(59/11 854). Eight cases were missed:3 cases of partial ifnger absence, 2 cases of clinodactyly, 1 case of syndacty, and 2 cases of polydacty. The rate of missed diagnosis is 11.90%(8/67). Abnormal wrist posture showed a hook-shaped hand in the wrist. Full-finger absence showed that one or multiple ifngers were absent. Metacarpal and phalanx absence showed no fetal hands. Clinodactyly showed that four ifngers were not in the same plane. Forearm and hand missing showed that ulna, metacarpal and phalangeal were absent. Syndacty showed a beak-like hand. Multi-ifnger indicated six ifngers in one hand. Lethal bone dysplasia showed very short limbs. Conclusions Prenatal u1trasonography played an important role in detecting and diagnosing severe type of fetal hand deformity. The detection rate of fetal hand deformities can be greatly improved by appropriate use of the scan-time, fetal position, systematic continuous sequence approach and real three-dimensional u1trasonography.