Moebius syndrome may occur with a variation of orthopedic presentations. Lower limb differences, (e.g., club feet), upper extremity differences (e.g., missing digits, syndactyly), and scoliosis may all occur with Moebius syndrome.
Presented by Phillip McClure, M.D.
Philip K. McClure, M.D., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in limb lengthening and reconstruction at the International Center for Limb Lengthening. He is a member of the Moebius Syndrome Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board.
Moebius syndrome may occur with clubfoot and the underdevelopment of hand or fingers, or webbing of the fingers (syndactyly).
Clubfoot occurs in almost one-third of patients with Moebius syndrome. In most cases, the clubfoot can be corrected partially or entirely by means of orthopedic procedures. Find out more about these treatment options.
The majority of clubfeet can be corrected in infancy in about six to eight weeks with the proper gentle manipulations and plaster casts. The Ponseti Method is a treatment based on a sound understanding of the functional anatomy of the foot and of the biological response of muscles, ligaments and bone to corrective position changes gradually obtained by manipulation and casting.
The underdevelopment of the hand or fingers, or webbing of the fingers (syndactyly), also occurs with Moebius syndrome. Surgery often can be performed to separate fingers.
