Klippel – Feil Syndrome Associated with Congential Heart Disease Presentaion of Cases and a Review of the Curent Literature

Abstract

First time described in 1912, from Maurice Klippel and Andre Feil independently, Klippel-Feil syndrome (synonyms: cervical vertebra fusion syndrome, Klippel-Feil deformity, Klippel-Feil sequence disorder) is a bone disorder characterized by the abnormal joining (fusion) of two or more spinal bones in the neck (cervical vertebrae), which is present from birth. Three major features result from this abnormality: a short neck, a limited range of motion in the neck, and a low hairline at the back of the head. Most affected people have one or two of these characteristic features. Less than half of all individuals with Klippel-Feil syndrome have all three classic features of this condition.Since first classification from Feil in three categories (I – III) other classification systems have been advocated to describe the anomalies, predict the potential problems, and guide treatment decisions. Patients with Klippel-Feil syndrome usually present with the disease during childhood, but may present later in life. The challenge to the clinician is to recognize the associated anomalies that can occur with Klippel-Feil syndrome and to perform the appropriate workup for diagnosis.