The United States Supreme Court decision on overturning Roe v. Wade, which now imposes a ban on abortion, has major implications on healthcare. Several reports have already stressed that obstetricians, neonatologists, and pediatricians are expected to treat infants and children with congenital anomalies more frequently than in the past [1]. However, little has been discussed about the potential impact of this development on pediatric orthopedic surgery.

Trisomy 13, or Patau’s syndrome, is a rare genetic condition estimated to affect one in every twelve thousand births in the United States [1]. These children typically have multiple major congenital abnormalities and historically were not expected to live past infancy [2]. Because of this, trisomy 13 was previously considered to be a universally fatal condition which led physicians to discourage life-sustaining treatment, thus creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. The withholding of life-sustaining treatment undoubtedly contributed to the rate of lethality associated with trisomy 13, making it difficult to determine if the high mortality is intrinsic to the condition or simply due to a lack of intervention [3].

Adnexal torsion is a gynecologic emergency in young women and adolescents that involves twisting of the ovarian pedicle and/or fallopian tube that can result in compromised blood flow and viability of the ovary or tube [1]. If not treated promptly, adnexal torsion can potentially have permanent consequences, including loss of the ovary or fallopian tube, diminished hormonal function, and potential impaired fertility. Therefore, prompt diagnosis is imperative.