Non-progressive paraparesis in children with congenital ligamentous laxity.

We present clinical data from 11 children with generalised joint laxity complicated by signs of pyramidal dysfunction confined to the lower limbs. Gait abnormalities were observed at the time they started walking or soon afterwards. In some, there was delay in locomotor development but all except one were mentally normal. The neurological component of the condition was non-progressive, and sensory impairment with sphincter involvement was observed in only one case in whom there was radiological evidence of myelomalacia. Whilst co-existing ligamentous laxity and pyramidal dysfunction in the lower limbs may be coincidental, it is also possible that joint laxity is a pre-condition for developing neurological abnormality in the legs because of hypermobility of the vertebral column which thereby damages the spinal cord.