Klippel Feil Support

Klippel-Feil Syndrome was first noted by two doctors (hence the name) in 1912. This is a congenital fusion of the vertebrae. It is a syndrome because often other congenital conditions are co-occuring. These include: cleft palate/lip, curvature of the spine, painless restiction of neck and/or trunk movement, low posterior hairline, webbing of the neck, short neck, involuntary synkenesis (mirror movement of extremeties), hearing loss, vision problems, heart defects, renal/urinary defects, facial assymetry, speech problems, and others.

Sources: *"Klippel-Feil Syndrome" by G.L. Ruff in "Craniofacial Anomolies." *"Klippel-Feil Anomalad" in "Systemic Manifestations." *"The Incidence of Klippel-Feil Syndrome in Patients with Congenital Scoliosis and Kyphosis" by R.B. Winter, J.H. Moe, & J.E. Lonstein in "Spine," v. 9, #4, 1984.

Klippel-Feil Syndrome occurs in one of 42,000 births, with 55% females. So far, cause has been suggested to be chromosomal related, in which during development of the fetus, something has happened to the spinal column. This is just postulation, and much more research needs to be done.