Bandl ring

Last revised by Owen Kang on 3 Jun 2016

A Bandl ring may be seen during imaging of a patient in labour.

It is considered to be an uncommon finding in modern obstetrics (0.01-1.26%).

It is a pathologic retraction ring at "Barnes boundary line", which separates the upper contractile portion of the uterus from lower uterine segment. The constriction prevents the fetus from orientating toward the cervical os and obstructs normal labour.

  • uterine constriction at the junction of the thinned lower uterine segment with a thickened, retracted upper uterine segment

May necessitate caesarean section to avoid potential uterine rupture.

Named after L Bandl, a Viennese obstetrician.

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