Brachydactyly in acrosyndactyly

Infrequent association of two rare diseases: amniotic band syndrome and osteogenesis imperfecta

Objectives

Amniotic band syndrome and osteogenesis imperfecta are two distinct diseases that develop due to structural defects of the collagen protein. In our paper, we report the concurrence of these two diseases rarely seen in the newborn period.

Case presentation

A female infant born at 33rd gestational week was found to have constrictive bands in her right lower extremity and flexion contractures in distal joints of lower and upper extremities due to amniotic bands in postnatal physical examination. While being treated for respiratory difficulty, she was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta and treated with bisphosphonates upon being found to suffer bilateral humeral fractures on the sixth day of life. She received respiratory support with mechanical ventilation due to respiratory tract complications related to osteogenesis imperfecta and died on the 384th day of life.

Conclusions

One should bear in mind that other collagen tissue diseases may accompany the amniotic band syndrome; this possibility should be definitely pursued if clinical suspicion exists.

Amniotic band syndrome with double encephalocele: A case report

BACKGROUND

Amniotic band syndrome (ABS) is a rare condition of controversial etiology that is associated with varying degrees of anomalies. This study reports a case of a newborn with ABS associated with double encephalocele in the frontal region.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 29-year-old primiparous woman with no history of prenatal infection or consanguineous marriage had a cesarean section at gestational week 38, giving birth to a newborn who was well but had limb anomalies (constriction rings, amputations, and syndactyly) and craniofacial anomalies, mainly double frontal encephalocele. The patient underwent surgical repair and subsequent placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

CONCLUSION

Studies clarifying this uncommon association with double encephalocele are limited. ABS associated with double encephalocele is rare and even more complex when associated with other anomalies. Thus, the conditions in such children are severe and require multidisciplinary monitoring.

Amniotic Constriction Bands: Secondary Deformities and Their Treatments

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to report the surgical treatment experience of patients with amniotic constriction bands (ACB) over a 35-year interval and detail consequential limb deformities with emphasis on hands and upper extremities, along with the nature and frequency of their surgical treatment methods.

METHODS

Fifty-one patients were identified; 26 were males and 25 females. The total number of deformities was listed. The total number of operations, individual procedures, and operations plus procedures that were done for each patient and their frequency were recorded.

RESULTS

The total number of operations was 117, and total number of procedures was 341. More procedures were performed on the upper extremity (85%) than the lower extremity (15%). Including the primary deformity ACB, 16 different hand deformities secondary to ACB were encountered. Sixteen different surgical methods for the upper extremity were utilized; a primary procedure for ACB and secondary reconstructions for all secondary deformities. Average age at the time of the first procedure was 9.3 months. The most common procedures performed, in order of frequency, were excision of ACB plus Z-plasty, release of partial syndactyly, release of fenestrated syndactyly, full-thickness skin grafts, resection of digital bony overgrowth from amputation stumps, and deepening of first and other digital web spaces.

CONCLUSIONS

Many hand and upper extremity deformities secondary to ACB are encountered. Children with ACB may require more than one operation including multiple procedures. Numerous surgical methods of reconstruction for these children's secondary deformities are necessary in addition to the customary primary procedure of excision of ACB and Z-plasty.

Idiopathic Fenestrated Complex Syndactyly in a Unique Crisscross Fashion

This case presents surgical treatment of a unique form of syndactyly: an isolated fenestrated, complex, crisscross syndactyly of the right middle and ring fingers. A 2-year-old boy presented with the ring finger lying dorsal and the middle finger lying volar, with the middle phalanges syndactylized. A surgical release was performed with a subsequent z-plasty, 2 years later, for scar elongation. At the age of 4, he has essentially full function of his hand with minimal limitations. This case demonstrates that 2 digits that were syndactylized in a coronal plane (ring finger dorsal and middle finger volar) can be successfully surgically separated.

Metacarpal hypoplasia associated with congenital constriction band syndrome

PURPOSE

The amputation of digits that occurs in association with congenital constriction band syndrome (CCBS) is often described as similar to that resulting from trauma. Some previous studies have suggested that no bone hypoplasia is present in the affected limb proximal to the amputated part. The purpose of this study was to report our series of patients with metacarpal hypoplasia in amputated digits associated with CCBS.

METHODS

We reviewed a total of 37 hands of 24 patients diagnosed as having amputated fingers owing to CCBS and evaluated the clinical features of the metacarpal bone hypoplasia.

RESULTS

We found coexistent metacarpal hypoplasia in 11 hands in 9 patients. Three of the patients were male and 6 were female. The average age at the time of examination was 9 years (range, 4-20 y). We observed metacarpal hypoplasia in cases of amputation at the level of the proximal phalanx and not at the level of the middle phalanx.

CONCLUSIONS

We found metacarpal hypoplasia in 38% of patients and in 30% of hands with amputated digits owing to CCBS.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic IV.

Amniotic band syndrome of the upper extremity: diagnosis and management

Amniotic band syndrome, a condition involving fetal entrapment in strands of amniotic tissue, causes an array of deletions and deformations. Band formation most frequently affects the distal segments, including the hand. Because of the heterogeneous nature of expression of this disease, treatment is individualized. Timing of repair and surgical planning are important in improving functional outcome. In the patient with distal edema and acrosyndactyly, early repair portends better prognosis. Improvements in prenatal diagnosis and fetoscopic surgical technique may eventually allow treatment of amniotic band syndrome in utero.

Bandas de constrição congênitas

A síndrome da banda de constrição congênita é uma patologia rara, de ocorrência ocasional na natureza e não existe predisposição genética. É freqüentemente associada a amputações de dedos ou membros, sindactilia, acrossindactilia (sindactilia fenestrada), mal formações em face, tórax e/ou abdômen. O presente trabalho representa nossa experiência na abordagem e tratamento da Síndrome da Banda de Constrição Congênita. Foram tratados 10 pacientes atendidos em nosso serviço em um período de 20 anos.