Severe malformation of one foot from amniocentesis needle injury

Abstract

An 11-year-old boy is described who was born with a poorly developed right foot. At 16 weeks gestation his mother had had amniocentesis without direct ultrasound guidance. After the insertion of the amniocentesis needle, she felt strong abdominal resistance, which disappeared with slight withdrawal of the needle. Then, realtime ultrasound was used to determine the position of the needle, which was reported to be up against the feet. Nine days later deep purple amniotic fluid was removed by amniocentesis. At birth there was a scab over an oozing hole in the lateral aspect of his right 'foot', a poorly formed structure with five digit-like structures at the tip. It seems most likely that the deformity was caused by tissue injury from needle puncture at 16 weeks gestation.