Anomalies and Curiosities of MedicineGould, George M. (George Milbrey)
Science
Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine
Gould, George M. (George Milbrey)
Abnormalities, Human; Medicine -- Anecdotes
Intrauterine fractures are occasionally seen, but are generally the
results of traumatism or of some extraordinary muscular efforts on the
part of the mother. A blow on the abdomen or a fall may cause them. The
most interesting cases are those in which the fractures are multiple
and the causes unknown. Spontaneous fetal fractures have been
discussed thoroughly, and the reader is referred to any responsible
text-book for the theories of causation. Atkinson, De Luna, and Keller
report intrauterine fractures of the clavicle. Filippi contributes an
extensive paper on the medicolegal aspect of a case of intrauterine
fracture of the os cranium. Braun of Vienna reports a case of
intrauterine fracture of the humerus and femur. Rodrigue describes a
case of fracture and dislocation of the humerus of a fetus in utero.
Gaultier reports an instance of fracture of both femora intrauterine.
Stanley, Vanderveer, and Young cite instances of intrauterine fracture
of the thigh; in the case of Stanley the fracture occurred during the
last week of gestation, and there was rapid union of the fragments
during lactation. Danyau, Proudfoot, and Smith mention intrauterine
fracture of the tibia; in Proudfoot's case there was congenital talipes
talus.
Dolbeau describes an instance in which multiple fractures were found in
a fetus, some of which were evidently postpartum, while others were
assuredly antepartum. Hirschfeld describes a fetus showing congenital
multiple fractures. Gross speaks of a wonderful case of Chaupier in
which no less than 113 fractures were discovered in a child at birth.
It survived twenty-four hours, and at the postmortem examination it was
found that some were already solid, some uniting, whilst others were
recent. It often happens that the intrauterine fracture is well united
at birth. There seems to be a peculiar predisposition of the bones to
fracture in the cases in which the fractures are multiple and the cause
is not apparent.
The results to the fetus of injuries to the pregnant mother are most
diversified. In some instances the marvelous escape of any serious
consequences of one or both is almost incredible, while in others the
slightest injury is fatal. Guillemont cites the instance of a woman who
was killed by a stroke of lightning, but whose fetus was saved; while
Fabricius Hildanus describes a case in which there was perforation of
the head, fracture of the skull, and a wound of the groin, due to
sudden starting and agony of terror of the mother. Here there was not
the slightest history of any external violence.
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