Arthrogryposis is the presence of two or more joint contractures. This means that the affected joints don’t move much and may even remain in one position. The muscles around these joints are thin, weak, stiff or even missing. Most contractures occur in the arms and the legs. The incidence of Arthrogryposis is 1/3,000 to 1/5,000 live births.
Movement is essential for joint, muscle, and tendon development and growth. When there is lack of fetal movement (fetal akinesia), extra tissue might develop around the joint, causing stiffness and immobility. The longer the joint does not move, the worse the contracture will be. This reduction of movements, in turn, can be caused by muscle/neurological problems, limitation of space (for example in twin pregnancies), or in maternal illness, but, in most cases, the reason is unclear.
Some cases of arthrogryposis are caused by a mistake in the baby’s genetic information, however, in other cases, the baby might inherit the syndrome from one or both of the parents.
In case of movement problems or intellectual disability in your family, be sure to mention this to your physician.
Many women will choose to have more tests done to know more about the condition of the baby. Tests to ask about include:
Determining the cause of congenital contractures is not always easy, especially in the prenatal period. Most specialists will recommend regular ultrasound examinations in order to observe the grade of joint contractures and presence of other anomalies, particularly in the brain, face, abdominal wall and lungs. Frequent ultrasound scans can also monitor any worsening condition of the baby, such as a decrease or increase of amniotic fluid.
There is no absolute cure for this condition; however, quality of life can be greatly improved
depending on the severity of the syndrome and each individual patient’s needs.
The main goal of treatment for arthrogryposis is to help your child’s joints move as normally as possible. This means improving their flexibility, their strength and the way the bones line up. For your child’s lower body, the focus is on working with their feet and legs so that they may be able to stand and walk. For their upper body, the focus is on working with their hands and arms so they may be able to do things on their own.
There are a variety of orthopaedic surgery options that may be needed for a child with arthrogryposis. Some are simple, such as an Achilles tendon release, some are moderate, including elbow and knee surgeries, and some are very involved, including limb lengthening and spinal surgery.
If no other genetic reason is found to explain the arthrogryposis, the risk of this happening again is 3-5%. If there is a genetic reason, this will determine the risk, and a consultation with a geneticist may be helpful in sorting this out.
Disclaimer:
The content of [this leaflet/ our website] is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to medical advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialised individual medical advice relating to your individual position before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on [this leaflet/ our website]. Although we make reasonable efforts to update the information on [our leaflets/ website], we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on [our leaflet/ website] is accurate, complete or up to date.
Last updated September 2019
