Nuchal Cord and Neurodevelopmental Performance at 1 Year

Objective:To test the null hypothesis that the presence of a nuchal cord at delivery has no effect on neurodevelopmental performance at 1 year of age.Methods:The offspring of 190 women with clinically normal antenatal courses were evaluated within 1 month of their first birthday by a blinded observer using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. The cases were grouped based on the presence of a symptomatic nuchal cord during labor (abnormal fetal heart rate patterns or meconium), and significant differences were detected using analysis of variance.Results:A symptomatic nuchal cord was present during labor and delivery in 24% of the 190 cases. At 1 year of age scores on both Bayley scales were slightly but significantly (P < .01) lower in the offspring delivered with a symptomatic nuchal cord. The mental index was 116 ± 9 versus 120 ± 7, and the psychomotor index was 101 ± 11 versus 107 ± 9. These differences were accentuated (P = .09) when the symptomatic cases complicated by extreme tightness, multiple ...