[The spine in the thalidomide-embryopathy]

The results of an X-ray investigation of 480 patients suffering from thalidomide embryopathy demonstrate that, beside dysmelia, spinal alterations are an important factor in malformations of the postural and locomotion apparatus. The pattern of malformations consists-according to the frequency of accumulated incidences - of spondylolysis, scoliosis, malformations of the intervertebral disc and dysgenesia of the sacrum. As in the case of extremities this pattern of malformations can only be established by radiological morphology. It necessarily entails alterations of varying functional value. There is no doubt that spinal alterations influence the fate of affected patients in the future.