Clinical Features of Congenital Contractural Arachnodactyly

Abstract

ABSTRACT Clinical features of 11 cases of congenital contractural arachnodactyly (CCA) were reported. Eight cases were male and 3 cases were female. Family history was positive in 6 cases of 3 families. As for hand deformity, flexion of the finger, adduction of the thumb and shortening of the palmar skin were observed in all cases, arachnodactyly in ten cases, flexion contracture of the finger joint in 6 cases. Dolichostenomelia and crumpled ear deformity were associated in all cases, spinal deformity in 6 cases, flexion contracture of the lower extremities in 5 cases, micrognathia in 2 cases and high palate, strabismus, pectus excavatum and polydactyly of the fifth toe in one case. Arachnodactyly was not an essential feature of CCA. Existence of multiple camptodactyly with or without arachnodactyly and/or ulnar drift of the fingers, and crumpled ear deformity were important findings for differential diagnosis of CCA. There was no association of cardiovascular anomalies in this series. CCA without ocular and cardiovascular involvement must be a definite clinical entity and should be distinguished from the other forms of marfanoid habitus.