Ladd’s Bands in Adults: A Cadaveric Report and Series of Delayed Diagnosis and Long-term Symptoms

Intestinal malrotation resulting in Ladd’s bands are congenital anomalies where the intestines fail to rotate properly during normal embryological development. These are usually discovered in early childhood and are mostly seen in pediatric populations. Corrective surgery is termed Ladd’s procedure and involves removal of abnormal tissue bands and intestinal re-positioning. Ladd’s bands in adults are rare and often have variable clinical presentation ranging from asymptomatic to intermittent abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting from months to years, which can lead to misdiagnosis. Here we present a case of an incidental finding of Ladd’s bands in a 77-year-old male cadaver during a routine dissection as well as a literature review of 15 case studies on adults with Ladd’s bands. Although it is a rare pathology, Ladd’s bands should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with common gastrointestinal symptoms. The frequently delayed diagnosis of this condition may result in unnecessary treatments and prolonged discomfort for patients. Further research is needed to understand better the incidence, diagnostic criteria, and optimal management strategies for Ladd’s bands in adults, which remain an under-recognized cause of chronic abdominal complaints.