[Cervically-induced symptoms of the Klippel-Feil syndrome]

Klippel-Feil syndrome is a congenital deformity disease caused by disturbances of the growing together of the mesenchymal preliminary vertebrae which are mostly located in the regions of the cervical spine and shoulder. Short neck and wryneck (torticollis), as well as limited motion of the neck and reduced mobility of the cervical spine, are the most striking findings on clinical examination. Vertigo, disturbed sound conduction and perception, as well as combined loss of hearing, tinnitus and paralysis of the facial nerve can occur although otoscopic findings may be normal. Differential diagnosis is effected by means of the typical x-ray film of the cervical spine and the vertebrobasilar transition. Functional anomalies of the vertebral arteries are determined via x-ray angiography. Neuro-otological syndromes can be explained by congenital deformities of the middle ear, cochlea, peripheral vestibular organs and internal auditory canal; mainly, however, by a "vascular" cervical syndrome, which, in this particular case, explains the cochlea symptoms. Vertigo and dizziness can also be caused by a pathological irritation of cervical proprioceptive sensory organs through deformities of the skeleton.