Lublin, Poland

Author Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Skubiszewski Medical University of Lublin, Poland; University Pediatric Hospital, Chodźki St. 220-093 Lublin, Poland (Karski T, Kalakucki J, Karski J)

Corresponding Author: Tomasz Karski, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatric Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Skubiszewski Medical University of Lublin, Poland; University Pediatric Hospital, Chodźki St. 220-093 Lublin, Poland (Tel/Fax: 0048 81/741 56 53; Email: tkarski@dsk.lublin.pl)

Background: In this article, we describe early clinical symptoms of "syndrome of contractures" (Mau) in newborns and children as well as its relations to the so-called idiopathic scoliosis.

Data sources: Two different groups of children were analyzed. The first group consisted of 60 children. They were first examined in newborn and infancy period with hip dysplasia, torticollis or deformities of feet or others. They were examined again at the age of 5-7 years in 1996. All the 60 examined children, who were found primary symptoms of "syndrome of contractures" in histories, showed first symptoms of the so-called idiopathic scoliosis later at the age of 5-7 years. The other group in our research included 123 newborns born in the period of 1998-2000. In this group we analyzed with emphasis on the mothers' conditions during the pregnancy period, the children's conditions in infancy period, and their connection with symptoms of "syndrome of contractures".

Results: "syndrome of contractures" could explain the predominance of female patients with scoliosis, sides of curves (lumbar—left convex, thoracic—right convex). What we see "left sided syndrome of contractures" mostly can explain the clinical picture of so-called idiopathic scoliosis: the side of curves—lumbar left, thoracic right, side of the rib hump (right side of thorax), progression in the acceleration period of growth, and the sensibility to new rehabilitation exercises.

Conclusions: Newborns with clinical signs of "syndrome of contractures" require further spine examinations at the age of 3-6 years to detect the danger of oncoming scoliosis and to introduce rehabilitation management in the program of the "causal neo-prophylaxis".

Key words: "syndrome of contractures"; so-called idiopathic scoliosis; etiology; abduction contracture of the right hip

                                                                                                          World J Pediatr 2007;3(4):254-259