title: Prevalence of congenital limb defects: Data from birth defects registries in three provinces in Southern Thailand.
abstract: This is the first population-based study in Thailand on the prevalence of congenital limb defects (CLD). Data were obtained from recently established birth defects registries in three southern Thailand provinces during 2009-2013. Entries in the birth defects registries included live births, stillbirths after 24 weeks gestational age, and terminations of pregnancy following a prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomaly. The total of 186 393 births recorded included 424 CLD cases, giving an average prevalence of 2.27 per 1000 births (95% CI, 2.05-2.49). The most common CLD was talipes equinovarus (44.1%), followed by polydactyly (13.9%) and syndactyly (9.4%). The prevalence significantly increased with maternal age from 1.81 in mothers aged <30 years to 2.75 in mothers 30 to  < 35 years, and to 2.94 in mothers ≥35 years (P = 0.004). Overall 9.4% of the CLDs were syndromic CLD, again with significantly greater percentages in pregnant women aged ≥35 years than the non-syndromic CLD (32.5% vs 17.5% respectively, P = 0.03). In conclusion, the overall prevalence of CLD in the 3 southern Thailand provinces examined was 2.27 per 1000 births, and syndromic CLD was significantly higher in pregnant women aged ≥35 years than younger pregnant women.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors: Somchit
authors: S
authors: Jaruratanasirikul
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Physical Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors: Boonsin
authors: B
authors: Tangtrakulwanich
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors: Pornruedee
authors: P
authors: Rachatawiriyakul
authors: Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors: Hutcha
authors: H
authors: Sriplung
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Education Center Songkhla Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors: Wannee
authors: W
authors: Limpitikul
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Education Center Hatyai Hospital, Hatyai, Thailand, Songkhla.
authors: Pathikan
authors: P
authors: Dissaneevate
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Education Center Trang Hospital, Trang, Thailand.
authors: Nattasit
authors: N
authors: Khunnarakpong
authors: Pediatric Unit, Phatthalung Hospital, Phatthalung, Thailand.
authors: Pongsak
authors: P
authors: Tantichantakarun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017880:Limb Deformities, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050498:Live Birth; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D050497:Stillbirth; D013577:Syndrome; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: congenital limb defects; limb reduction; polydactyly; syndactyly; talipes equinovarus