• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

HealthMD

HealthMD

You are here: Home / Information / Arthrogryposis – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Arthrogryposis – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

By surekha

Arthrogryposis is a congenital birth condition that is marked by multiple joint contractures in the body. One in 3,000 children will have this problem and it develops both in boys and girls. It is a neuro-muscular skeletal disorder affecting all parts of the body and in medical terms it is described as “arthrogryposis multiplex congenital”. There would be stiffness and poor movement of the joints and muscles. Here the joint remains in the form of curved position and is inherited by birth. The disorder is progressive and nothing much can be done to prevent it.

Arthrogryposis Causes :

The major cause for this condition is the reduced movement of the fetus inside the womb. The fetus should make flexible movements inside the mother’s uterus for normal development of joints and muscles. However some reason prevents the fetus movement leading to contracture of joints and muscles. There would be an extra tissue around the joint of the baby that forms during 8th to 10th week of pregnancy and it is what restricts the movements of the joint.

Any malfunction during the development of central nervous system of brain causes this disorder in the child. Myotonic dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy and severe infections like measles during pregnancy can be the reason for arthrogryposis.

Consumption of alcohol and drugs that are poisonous to the child’s development can also cause this problem. If the mother had fever for long time during her pregnancy it would increase body temperature and will leave the fetus get soaked in hot tub (inside the womb) for prolonged time.

Due to neuropathic processes, the baby’s nerve may not mature enough for normal functioning which may cause this disorder. Sometimes, due to improper circulation of the blood inside the fetus body the nerves may not receive enough nourishment which may account for poor muscle development or deformed muscles and joints. Arthrogryposis can happen if there is not adequate amount of amniotic fluid facilitating free movement of the fetus.

Symptoms :

The symptoms are different in each child depending on the severity of the problem caused during the fetal development. The arms and legs are badly affected and the ankles and wrists of the child looks deformed. For some children, there would be very less or even no movement of joints in the arms and legs. Muscular growth in those regions are almost absent for affected children. The hip joint will not be fixed in proper place.

The spinal cord may look curvy and the child may have deformity in his face and genitals. In addition, the child may suffer from acute respiratory problem and cardiac problem by birth.

Diagnoses :

This disorder can be identified by routine ultrasound scan or CT scan of the child to detect the extent of abnormality in the joints and central nervous system.

Pictures of Arthrogryposis :

Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Arthrogryposis

Arthrogryposis Arthrogryposis Arthrogryposis Arthrogryposis
Treatment :

Since the disorder is congenital (inherited by birth) there is no way one can prevent this problem. Soon after birth, the affected child should be given regular physical therapy for stretching and contracting the joints so that the muscles become strong. Effective physiotherapy is useful for strengthening the muscles and repositioning the child’s limbs and arms. The baby is to given such therapies during the first 4 months period wherein the contractures would loosen rapidly giving way for strengthened joints and muscles.

Occupational therapy is given for the child to use the available motor functions in effective ways. Doctors would advice using splints for stretching the joints and the child should wear it day and night. In severe cases, orthopedic surgery is done for correcting the joint problem to some extent. The child having club foot or hernia or hip displacement problem will be cured through proper surgeries. For repairing congenital heart disease, corrective surgery is done on the heart.

Related posts:

  1. Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnoses, Treatment
  2. Finger Joint Pain
  3. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) In Children – Symptoms, Test, Medication
  4. Baby Rashes
  5. 13th Week of Pregnancy – Symptoms, Ultrasound
  6. Twin Pregnancy – Symptoms, Week by Week, Complications
  7. Joint Inflammation
  8. 15th Week of Pregnancy – Symptoms, Ultrasound
  9. Early Pregnancy Symptoms : 14 Early Signs Of Pregnancy
  10. 5th Week of Pregnancy – Baby’s Development, Tips

Filed Under: Information

Primary Sidebar

Learn More:

Also Read:

Diabetes Weight Loss : Best Weight Loss Diet For Diabetes

Itchy Throat

Milia – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Testosterone and Estrogen Levels in Women

Tightness In The Abdomen – Symptoms, Location, Causes, Treatment

Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) – Pictures, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Infected Ingrown Hair – Symptoms, Causes, Home Remedies, Treatment

Thyroxine

Cramping During Early Pregnancy

Circulatory System

Skin Cancer (Face) – Types, Signs, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention

Skin Tags

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – Symptoms, Cause, Treatment

Hyperemesis Gravidarum – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Vaginal Bleeding – After Sex, After Menopause, During Pregnancy

Search and Learn More

www.healthmd.net

  • About Us
  • Dr. Latheef Kasala, Ph.D
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
SettingsAccept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT