Obstructed labor is a serious obstetric emergency that can lead to uterine rupture, and significant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Bandl first described this condition, of abnormal retraction of the uterus occurring during obstructed labor, characterized by a constriction between the thinned lower uterine segment and the thick, retracted upper uterine portion. To determine the incidence and the maternal and perinatal outcome in pregnancies showing Bandl's ring by reviewing the published literature.

Bandl's ring is a rare pathology, although its incidence is thought to be rising. Training curricula for treating this condition is almost nonexistent. Patients who present with this disease require specific management and treatment. Practicing these techniques in a medical simulation lab allows trainees to hone their skills in a safe, inconsequential environment. We present a simulated case in which a patient presents with a Bandl's ring.

A pathologic retraction ring (Bandl's ring) of the uterus is a constriction located at the junction of the thinned lower uterine segment and the thick retracted upper uterine segment that is associated with obstructed labor. The following is the first reported case of recurrent pathologic retraction ring and an attempted vaginal birth after cesarean section following such an abnormality.