Uterine rupture vs dehiscence: which statement is correct?

• A. Rupture is a complete separation with clinical symptoms and fetal compromise
• B. Dehiscence is a complete separation with fetal distress
• C. Rupture and dehiscence have identical clinical presentations
• D. Dehiscence occurs when there is placental previa

Answer: (A)

Uterine rupture and dehiscence differ mainly by how completely the uterine wall is disrupted and what that means for mom and baby. A rupture is a full-thickness tear through the uterine wall, so all layers separate. This typically produces clear clinical signs—sudden severe abdominal or back pain, vaginal bleeding, loss of fetal station or fetal distress on monitoring, and can lead to catastrophic maternal hemorrhage if not treated promptly. Because the defect is complete, the fetus is often compromised and needs urgent surgical delivery.

Dehiscence, on the other hand, is a partial separation at the site of a prior scar where the uterine wall does not split through all layers. The serosa may remain intact, and symptoms can be mild or even absent; fetal status is usually preserved, and it may be found incidentally during cesarean delivery or imaging rather than presenting with an acute, dramatic picture.

So the correct statement reflects that rupture is a complete separation with clinical symptoms and fetal compromise. Dehiscence is not a complete separation and does not typically present with fetal distress, and the two conditions do not have identical presentations. Placental previa is not what defines dehiscence.