[Klippel-Feil syndrome and associated congenital abnormalities: evaluation of 23 cases].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to review adult patients with Klippel-Feil syndrome.


METHODS
The study included 23 male patients (mean age 20.5 years, range 19 to 27 years) with Klippel-Feil syndrome. Besides orthopedic clinical evaluation, all the patients were assessed by anteroposterior and lateral cervical flexion/extension and thoracolumbar radiographies, abdominal ultrasonography, and were subjected to systemic examinations to detect any urological, cardiological, otorhinolaryngological, neurological, and psychiatric findings. Temporal computed tomography was performed in seven patients, and cervical magnetic resonance imaging in three patients.


RESULTS
Scoliosis, fusion of the cervical vertebrae (between 2-5 vertebrae), low hairline and short neck were found in all the cases. Lumbar fusion was detected in one patient. Other findings included renal agenesis (n=1), different types of hearing loss (n=9), cardiac pathologies (n=5), epilepsy (n=1), and marked (n=1) or mild (n=1) mirror movements.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with Klippel-Feil syndrome should be assessed for associated systemic abnormalities besides cervical fusion.
Mahiroğullari
Mahir
M
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology (Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Kliniği), GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. mahirogullari@yahoo.com
Ozkan
Hüseyin
H
Yildirim
Nadir
N
Cilli
Feridun
F
Güdemez
Eftal
E
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple; D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities; D006801:Humans; D007714:Klippel-Feil Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology