Klippel-Feel syndrome (KFS) is a rare disorder that affects the growth of the bones of the spine. If you have KFS, you will be born with at least two spinal bones in your neck joined together. This can lead to a short neck, lower hairline, limited movement, headaches, and back pain. But you may not have all of the symptoms.
KFS can occur alone or in combination with other genetic conditions. It is congenital, meaning the disorder is present while you are in the womb and at birth.
There is no cure for KFS, and treatment consists of managing symptoms. Treatment plans depend on the severity of symptoms, but can include physical therapy, medication, or surgery.
We’ll take an overview of what experts know so far about how and why KFS occurs, its complications, and the treatment and management options that currently exist.
In KFS, cervical vertebrae
KFS is linked to inherited genes, but most people don’t inherit it, which means it doesn’t usually run in families. leadership
When KFS is present in many related people, the most recent research from
- Growth differentiation factor 6 (dominant)
- Growth differentiation factor 3(dominant)
- Medium Homeopathic Box 1 (rare genetic trait)
- Ripply Deadly Copy 2 (rare genetic trait)
When the gene is dominant, you can inherit it if only one of your parents has it. When the gene is recessive, both of your parents need to have it in order for you to inherit it.
All of the above genes
KFS is divided into types 1, 2 and 3, and ranges from the mildest to the most severe. The way this species is defined has varied over the years, from the degree of vertebral fusion to the patterns of genetic inheritance.
If classified by the extent of congenital fusion, then
- type 1: Uni-level fusion of the cervical segment. This means the fusion of one of the vertebrae of the neck with another.
- Type 2: Multiple fusion of cervical segments. These are not contiguous, which means they are not next to each other.
- Type 3: Multiple fusion of cervical segments. These are contiguous, which means they are next to each other.
Types 2 and 3 are associated with greater limited movement, compression of the spinal cord (myelopathy), and pinching of the nerve root of the spinal cord in your lower back (radiculopathy). This can cause pain, stiffness, weakness, and numbness in your extremities.
Associated Circumstances
KFS is associated with several concurrent conditions. These include:
- Kidney disease
- Hearing issues
- congenital heart disease
- brainstem malformations
- congenital cervical stenosis
- axial astronomical instability
The severity of KFS symptoms can vary. Some people with this disorder have very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Others have severe symptoms that affect their quality of life.
The classic KFS symptom “triad” is categorized as:
- Abnormally short neck
- Restriction of head and neck movement
- low hairline
In previous decades, clinicians required the presence of all of these clinical signs to diagnose KFS. This is no longer the case, and experts agree that people with KFS can only include part of the triad among other signs.
according to
- Scoliosis (the spine curves to either side)
- high shoulder (high shoulder blades)
- Spina bifida
- cleft palate
- Heart defects
- Breathing problems
- Nerve damage and nerve pain in your head, neck and back
- Joint pain
- Hearing impairment
- Abnormalities in the function or structure of your organs, including the kidneys, heart, and reproductive organs
- Deformities and deformities of the skeleton in your face, including your ears, nose, jaw, and mouth
Treatment for KFS depends on your symptoms. Your treatment plan may change over the years to address any new symptoms you have as they occur.
Possible treatments for KFS include:
- physical therapy: It can help strengthen the muscles around your spine and can relieve pain. A physical therapist can also recommend neck braces, support pillows, and other non-invasive pain relief methods that you can use at home.
- surgery: It can be used to correct instability or constriction in the spinal cord. Exact surgery depends on factors such as how many bones in the spine fuse together and how KFS has affected other bones in the spine, shoulders, and upper body. For example, rod implants can help stabilize the spine, while spinal fusion can help straighten the spine.
- medicine: You may be recommended or prescribed medication to help manage skeletal, muscle and nerve pain due to KFS. This could include antidepressants, muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or corticosteroids.
KFS is usually visible at birth. Diagnosis can be confirmed with radiographs, which include an imaging test such as an X-ray or MRI. These types of imaging will clearly depict the bones of the spine, so that doctors can see if any have fused together in your neck or upper back.
If you don’t have any symptoms, KFS can sometimes be identified later in your life by chance during an X-ray or MRI you had for an unrelated medical reason.
KFS is a congenital spine disorder that affects the bones in your neck. If you have KFS, you will be born with at least two bones in your neck joined together. For some people, this causes no visible signs or symptoms. For others, KFS can lead to a variety of lifelong symptoms, including limited movement, nerves, joint and muscle pain, skeletal abnormalities, and more.
Treatment for KFS depends on the severity of the symptoms. Medications, physical therapy, and even surgery can help manage pain and improve movement.
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