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Arthrogryposis
Background
Arthrogryposis: Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita; AMC
Arthrogryposis is not a diagnosis but a descriptive term, which is used to describe a baby born with joint contractures (where joints are fixed in a bent or straightened position) affecting at least two different areas of the body. It is believed that these contractures may result from one of several processes that cause the unborn baby’s limbs not to move properly at the time the joints are being formed. These processes fall into four main categories: problems with the nerve supply, the muscles, the connective or supporting tissues and external factors such as the blood supply to the baby or the shape of the womb. Approximately 1 in 5,000 babies are affected.
Arthrogryposis includes over one hundred and fifty different conditions. These include diagnoses such as multiple pterygium syndrome, Larsen syndrome and Freeman Sheldon syndrome. Some are relatively mild whilst others involve problems with other organs, such as the brain, nervous system or muscles.
