title: The intriguing history of vertebral fusion anomalies: the Klippel-Feil syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our knowledge and understanding of vertebral fusion, defined and eponymously known as Klippel-Feil syndrome in the early 1900s, have a long history. This uncommon finding has been identified as early as 500 B.C. in an Egyptian mummy. Many more examples of spinal vertebra fusion have been described by Greek historians and recovered by archeologists demonstrating this entity's rich history.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Klippel-Feil syndrome is a rare skeletal anomaly characterized by abnormal fusion of two or more vertebrae. With the advent of newer molecular technology and genetic discoveries, we now have a better understanding of the etiology and possible pathogenesis of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, Grenada. esaker@sgu.edu.|, 37-15 78th Street, Jackson Heights, New York City, NY, 11372, USA. esaker@sgu.edu.
authors.forename: Erfanul
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7307-1879
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saker
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, Grenada.
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loukas
authors.affiliation: Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Rod J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Oskouian
authors.affiliation: Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005197:Famous Persons; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007714:Klippel-Feil Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000266:history*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Cervical vertebra; Fusion; History; Klippel–Feil syndrome; Spine