[Skin dimpling: a complication of amniocentesis]

Abstract

Second trimester amniocentesis is widely used for the prenatal diagnosis of congenital disorders. Direct fetal injury from needle puncture can cause cutaneous scarring and rarely leads to severe visceral complications. Before the advent of real-time ultrasonography, the incidence of cutaneous lesions after amniocentesis ranged from 0.1 % to 9 % in the different series. Few reports of cutaneous lesions after amniocentesis have been published since the advent of real-time ultrasonography, although the real incidence is unknown. Eight children with typical skin dimpling caused by needle puncture during second trimester amniocentesis are presented. Current amniocentesis has not completely eliminated the risk of needle puncture scarring of the fetus. Dermatologists, pediatricians and obstetricians should be aware of this complication, which may have medical and legal consequences.