Association between hypermobility and congenital limb deficiencies

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hypermobility in individuals with congenital limb deficiencies and whether congenital limb loss is associated with increased laxity in the remaining joints. Study design: All data were collected during the individuals' visits to the prosthetic clinic. Setting: The subjects were evaluated at the Subregional Disablement Services Centre at University Hospital of South Manchester, UK. Subjects: Forty-five individuals with congenital limb deficiencies were studied (male/female 27 : 18; ages 6-31 years). Outcome measure: A modified version of the nine-point Beighton Score for hypermobility was used, using the presently accepted criteria for diagnosing hypermobility. Any individual who scored 3 or more points was considered to have joint hypermobility. Result: Of the 45 individuals with congenital limb deficiencies, 71% had at least one hypermobile joint, whereas 38% had three or more features of hypermobility, with female/male ratio of 2.75:1. Conclusion: Our results show an increase in joint hypermobility (laxity) in individuals born with congenital limb deficiencies compared with the prevalence of this condition in the general population, As joint hypermobility may predispose individuals to low back pain, joint effusion, recurrent joint dislocation and ligament rupture, it is useful to identify those individuals with hypermobility.