 Arthrogryposis
Jetson was born with some problems with his limbs. After a few days of tests they have named his condition as Arthrogryposis, which basically means that he has multiple contractures or stiff joints and muscles. He did not fit all the classic signs of Arthrogryposis, though it is just a general label for children born with a range of problems with many possible causes. They may never know why Jetson was born this way. He seems to have got himself caught in a bad position in the womb, and either did not have the muscle strength to move out of it or the room to move.
For Jetson, the problems he has to deal with include talipes (club foot) on both feet, and both his knees and elbows essentially did not bend at birth. He has weakness in particular muscles, though fortunately for him his hands are relatively unaffected.
As you can see in some of his photos, he was initially treated with leg casts to mould his limbs into the right position and give him a range of movement. These casts were initially changed each week for the first few months. At about 10 weeks the orthopaedic surgeons performed a Achilles tenotomy, cutting both his left and right Archilles tendons in the ankles in order for them to elongate and allow the foot to dorsi-flex fully. This is a common procedure in the treatment for club foot.
We have lots of physio appointments ahead of us as we try and get movement back into his limbs. Only time will tell how well it all goes. Good luck Jetson.
For more information about Arthrogryposis, see this site:
www.taag.org.au/arthrogryosis.php
Here is a medical description of amyoplasia
www.healthline.com/galecontent/amyoplasia |
