[Epidemiological analysis of syndactyly in Chinese perinatals].
OBJECTIVE
To study the epidemiological features of syndactyly (SD) in Chinese perinatals.


METHODS
Data were collected through Chinese Birth Defects Monitoring Network, a hospital-based congenital malformation registry system. From 1987 through 2001 (except 1994, 1995), all live or still births with 28 weeks of gestation or more born in participating hospitals were assessed within 7 days after delivery.


RESULTS
Totally 2311 perinatals with SD were identified among 7 478 746 births, and 57.2% of them were in association with other anomalies. The overall prevalence rate of SD was 3.09/10 000, the rate of isolated SD and associated SD was 1.32/10 000, and 1.77/10 000 respectively. The prevalence rates in urban and rural areas, in male and female births were 3.22/10 000 and 2.79/10 000, 3.42/10 000 and 2.59/10 000 respectively. An increasing trend was found during that period. The perinatal fatality rate of SD was 20.7%, that of isolated form was 5.7%, while that of associated form was 31.9%. The proportion of SD occurring in right side was the same as that in left side, and the proportion of SD in upper limbs equaled to that in lower limbs.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence rate of SD in Chinese perinatals was similar to that reported in foreign literatures. Associated form of SD was more frequently seen. The prevalence of SD in urban areas was higher than in rural areas. Male excess was identified in both isolated and associated forms of SD. No selective predominance was observed either by affected side or by affected limbs.
Dai
Li
L
National Center for Birth Defects Monitoring, Huaxi Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhou
Guang-Xuan
GX
Zhu
Jun
J
Mao
Meng
M
Heng
Zheng-Chang
ZC
D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D015995:Prevalence; D013576:Syndactyly / Q000453:epidemiology*