Cervical incompetence is premature dilation of the cervix during pregnancy before labor begins. It affects 0.1-2% of pregnancies and causes around 15% of preterm births between 16-28 weeks. While the cause is often unknown, it can be due to congenital weaknesses, prior trauma, or connective tissue disorders. Diagnosis relies on history of preterm births and physical findings like dilation of the cervix when not pregnant. Cervical cerclage placement is the standard treatment and involves surgically stitching the cervix closed to prevent premature dilation. The document discusses various cerclage techniques and their appropriate uses.