Amyoplasia, the most common type of arthrogryposis: the potential for good outcome

Abstract

Background: Amyoplasia is the most commonly seen diagnostic subgroup of children with arthrogryposis. The natural history of these children has not been well described previously.

Methods: Review of the medical records of 38 children with amyoplasia enabled us to describe their birth characteristics, therapeutic interventions, and functional outcomes.

Results: Eighty-four percent of the children had symmetrical, four-limb involvement, which was similar to the original descriptions of amyoplasia, at birth. There was an average of 5.7 orthopedic procedures per child, and the children had multiple castings and splintings of their limbs and participated in physical and occupational therapy on a regular basis. By the age of 5 years, 85% were ambulatory, most were relatively or completely independent in their activities of daily living, and most were in regular classrooms at the appropriate grade level.

Conclusion: Although children with amyoplasia have pronounced musculoskeletal involvement at birth, which requires orthopedic and rehabilitative interventions during their childhood, their functional outcome in both physical and educational areas is excellent.