Clinical spectrum of congenital musculoskeletal anomalies amongst Saudis in Rafha Hospital

Abstract EN

In order to analyze the pattern of various congenital musculoskeletalanomalies(CMAs) in the region of Rafha, Northern Frontier, SaudiArabia, a retrospective study was based on the records of all patients presented to the De-partment of Orthopaedics ofthe Government General Hos-pital between September 1993 and August 1999.

Three hundred and thirteen patients with وص CMAs were encountered, with a male tofemale ratio 1.11:1.

The age at diagnosis ranged from birth to 8 years (mean 1.6 )’ears).

Congenital dysplasia ofthe hip (18.91%), talipes calcaneovalgus (10.25%), talipes equinovarus (9.57%) and polydactyly (9.34%) were lit(‘ most common CMAs.

Gener-alized CMAs represented 10.47% of all patients.

Autoso-mal recessive anomalies were seen in 12.46% of patients.

Osteopetrosis was relatively common, comprising 30 cases.

Mostpatients with congenital dysplasia ofthe hip presented beyond the age of one year.

The incidence of overall pa-reniai consanguinity was 64.5%.

It was concluded that geneticdisorders accounted for a significant proportion of CMAs.

Screening programs are recommendedfor (lie early detection of congenital dyspla-sia of hip and some children with some CMAs need moni-toring throughout the gro wth period.

There is a need for a national registry of congenital anomalies to determine the prevalence and pattern of various CMAs and (o take the appropriate preventive measures