This case report evaluated the use of intrapartum point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to assist in diagnosing fetal head descent through a buttonhole cervical tear during labor.
Intrapartum POCUS enabled identification of fetal head passage through a cervical tear (buttonhole defect), a rare and potentially life-threatening complication that is difficult to diagnose clinically.
Single case report limits generalizability; no comparison group or systematic outcome data reported.
When clinical examination is ambiguous during labor, intrapartum POCUS may help identify rare mechanical complications such as fetal head descent through a cervical buttonhole tear, potentially guiding timely surgical management.
