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Decreased neonatal tibial bone ultrasound velocity in term infants born after breech presentation

Journal of Perinatology volume 27, pages 693–696 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

Fetuses found to be in the breech presentation have limited motion of their lower limbs. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that bone speed of sound (SOS) would be lower in infants born after breech presentation than in those born after vertex presentation.

Study Design:

We studied 127 singleton, appropriate for gestational age, term infants delivered by a scheduled cesarean delivery at approximately 38 weeks of gestation because of breech presentation or repeat elective cesarean section with vertex presentation. We used the Sunlight Omnisense 7000p device to measure axially transmitted SOS of the right tibia within the first 96 h of life.

Result:

Fifty-three infants studied (42%) were born by cesarean section after breech presentation compared to 74 vertex controls. Bone SOS was significantly lower in the breech presentation group, even after taking into account the effect of gender and parity (as well as gestational age at birth and birth weight).

Conclusion:

Bone SOS is lower in infants born after breech presentation than in those born after vertex presentation. We speculate that limited motion of lower limbs in fetuses found to be in the breech presentation leads to a decrease in bone mineralization and strength.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

    M Tshorny, A Alper & D Mandel

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    F B Mimouni

  3. Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    F B Mimouni & D Mandel

  4. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University and Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Y Littner

Authors
  1. M Tshorny
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  2. F B Mimouni
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  3. Y Littner
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  4. A Alper
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  5. D Mandel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D Mandel.

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Tshorny, M., Mimouni, F., Littner, Y. et al. Decreased neonatal tibial bone ultrasound velocity in term infants born after breech presentation. J Perinatol 27, 693–696 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211809

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211809

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