Moebius syndrome: Neurological, musculoskeletal and speech anomalies

Síndrome de Moebius: manifestaciones neurológicas, musculoesqueléticas y del lenguaje

Moebius syndrome consists of congenital non-progressive facial nerve palsy and unilateral or bilateral paralysis of the sixth cranial nerve with inability to abduct the eye. The oculomotor cranial nerves, as well as, cranial nerves IX, X and XII, may also be affected. This syndrome has also been associated with anomalies of the musculoskeletal system and epilepsy. A case is presented in a preschool boy whose mother tried to voluntarily interrupt pregnancy in the first trimester but failed to abort. Facial diplegia, bilateral sixth cranial nerve palsy and bilateral equinovarus deformity of the feet were evidenced at birth. At 17 days of life he presented a tonic-clonic seizure and was diagnosed with Moebius syndrome and difficult to treat epilepsy. Delayed overall development, predominantly swallowing and speech difficulties, were evidenced upon follow up.

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