Abstract
1. Eighty-two patients out of 114 with arthrogryposis seen at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, during the period of 1950-65 have been studied, and the literature has been reviewed.
2. Arthrogryposis is considered to be caused by a failure of normal development.
3. Respiratory infection in the first five years is the major hazard to life. If these children survive the first five years, the expectation is that they will reach maturity and find a place in the community.
4. Children with upper limb involvement develop remarkably good function which can be improved by carefully planned operations.
5. Operation has a much larger place in the treatment of affected lower limbs.
6. Three out of four children with lower limb involvement can be enabled to walk if tile need for repeated operation is accepted.
7. Excision of the talus is a useful operation in the management of club foot ill arthrogryposis.
8. Early treatment is more effective than late ill controlling deformity and improving function.
