What is congenital fusion of cervical spine?

Klippel-Feil Syndrome (KFS) is a congenital bone condition in which at least 2 cervical vertebrae remain fused and immobile. Some common signs may include a visibly short neck and low hairline behind the head.

What causes congenital fusion of cervical spine?

Klippel-Feil syndrome is defined as congenital fusion of two or more cervical vertebrae and is believed to result from faulty segmentation along the embryo’s developing axis during weeks 3–8 of gestation.

What is the common congenital abnormality of the spine?

Congenital spine abnormalities are disorders of the spine that develop very early in life. Many congenital spine abnormalities are related to spina bifida. Other common congenital spine abnormalities include tethered spinal cord and abnormal spinal alignment such as kyphosis, lordosis and scoliosis.

What are the two most common congenital malformations of the nervous system?

The most prevalent types of NTDs are anencephaly, encephalocele and spina bifida.

Can fused vertebrae be corrected?

Fusion is used to correct problems with the small bones of the spine. t’s almost like a welding process where the painful vertebrae are fused together so they can heal into a single solid bone.

Does Klippel-Feil syndrome get worse with age?

KFS symptoms may or may not be apparent at birth or during childhood. However, KFS symptoms typically worsen with age and may become more apparent later in life.

What are the major causes of congenital abnormalities?

Approximately 50% of congenital anomalies cannot be linked to a specific cause. However, known causes include single gene defects, chromosomal disorders, multifactorial inheritance, environmental teratogens and micronutrient deficiencies. Genetic causes can be traced to inherited genes or from mutations.

Is Klippel-Feil syndrome life expectancy?

In less than 30% of cases, individuals with KFS will present with heart defects. If these heart defects are present, they often lead to a shortened life expectancy, the average being 35–45 years of age among males and 40–50 among females. This condition is similar to the heart failure seen in gigantism.

Are there congenital anomalies of the cervical spine?

Congenital anomalies of the cervical spine occur infrequently and receive little attention when pathologic conditions of the spine are considered.

Can a person be born with a congenital cervical disorder?

Sometimes, an injury or illness can cause an upper cervical disorder, but you can also be born with one—this is known as a congenital disorder. Congenital means “present at birth.” This article provides an overview of the following congenital upper cervical disorders:

What are the different types of cervical spine problems?

Other syndromes known to have cervical spine associated problems 1 Aarskog syndrome. 2 Apert syndrome. 3 Atelosteogenesis, type 1. 4 Campomelic dysplasia. 5 Cervico-Ocuolo-Acoustic syndrome (Wildervanck syndrome). 6 (more items)

Where are congenital vertebral defects located in the body?

Congenital Vertebral Defects. The spinal column is the central structure in the vertebrate body from which stability, movement, and posture all derive. The vertebrae of the spine are organized into four regions (listed in order from cranial to caudal): cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and pelvic.