Frequency of Morbidly Adherent Placenta in Patients with Scarred Uterus

Background: In recent years more women come to pregnancy with a uterus that already had some surgery before, like cesarean birth or other procedures, and because of this the uterus does not heal in a perfect way. The scar area sometimes become thin or has less blood flow, and this can disturb how the placenta attach in the next pregnancy. When placenta try to grow on a weak scar area, it can go deeper than normal and cause many serious problems for the mother. Objective: To determine the frequency of morbidly adherent placenta in pregnant women with a previously scarred uterus. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Duration and Place of Study: This study was carried out from December 2024 to May 2025 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mardan Medical Complex Mardan. Methodology: A total of 163 pregnant women aged 18 to 40 years with a history of at least one previous uterine surgery and carrying a single fetus were included through consecutive sampling. Diagnosis of morbidly adherent placenta was based on ultrasound signs such as disappearance of the clear zone and extremely thin uterine muscle layer. Clinical examination and history were documented, and all imaging assessments were performed by a senior consultant. Results: Morbidly adherent placenta was found in 13 out of 163 women, giving a frequency of 8.00 percent. No significant association was observed with age (p = 0.262), gestational period (p = 0.305), socioeconomic status (p = 0.620), education (p = 0.619), or residence (p = 0.156). Conclusion: Morbidly adherent placenta remains a serious problem in women with previous uterine scars, highlighting the need for careful antenatal evaluation and early detection to reduce maternal risks.