Overview
Transient neonatal arthrogryposis is a rare condition that was previously recognized as a distinct disorder but has since been reclassified (marked as 'obsolete' in medical databases). The term refers to a temporary form of arthrogryposis — a condition where a newborn baby is born with stiff, contracted joints in multiple parts of the body. Unlike permanent forms of arthrogryposis, this transient type improves over time, often within the first weeks to months of life. Babies with this condition may have limited movement in their arms, legs, or other joints at birth, but gradually regain normal or near-normal joint mobility as they grow. The condition is thought to be related to factors that temporarily restrict fetal movement in the womb, or to maternal antibodies that cross the placenta and temporarily affect the baby's neuromuscular function. In some cases, maternal antibodies against fetal acetylcholine receptors (the receptors that help muscles respond to nerve signals) have been identified as a cause. This is similar to what happens in neonatal myasthenia gravis. Because the condition resolves on its own, treatment is mainly supportive, focusing on physical therapy and gentle stretching to help the baby's joints regain their full range of motion. Since this diagnosis has been reclassified, patients and families may find that their condition is now categorized under broader arthrogryposis or neonatal myasthenia-related diagnoses.
Key symptoms:
Stiff or locked joints at birthLimited movement of arms and legsDifficulty bending or straightening jointsMuscle weakness in the newborn periodReduced fetal movement noticed during pregnancyDifficulty feeding due to weak suckingAbnormal positioning of hands or feet at birthDecreased muscle tone (floppy baby)Breathing difficulties in severe cases
Neonatal
Begins at or shortly after birth (first 4 weeks)
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for OBSOLETE: Transient neonatal arthrogryposis.
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Specialists
View all specialists →No specialists are currently listed for OBSOLETE: Transient neonatal arthrogryposis.
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to OBSOLETE: Transient neonatal arthrogryposis.
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Caregiver Resources
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Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.How can you be sure this is the transient form and not a permanent type of arthrogryposis?,What tests will be done to determine the cause of my baby's joint stiffness?,How long should we expect it to take before we see improvement?,What physical therapy or exercises should we be doing at home?,Are there any warning signs we should watch for that would need emergency care?,Could this condition affect future pregnancies?,Should we see a geneticist to rule out other conditions?
Common questions about OBSOLETE: Transient neonatal arthrogryposis
What is OBSOLETE: Transient neonatal arthrogryposis?
Transient neonatal arthrogryposis is a rare condition that was previously recognized as a distinct disorder but has since been reclassified (marked as 'obsolete' in medical databases). The term refers to a temporary form of arthrogryposis — a condition where a newborn baby is born with stiff, contracted joints in multiple parts of the body. Unlike permanent forms of arthrogryposis, this transient type improves over time, often within the first weeks to months of life. Babies with this condition may have limited movement in their arms, legs, or other joints at birth, but gradually regain normal
At what age does OBSOLETE: Transient neonatal arthrogryposis typically begin?
Typical onset of OBSOLETE: Transient neonatal arthrogryposis is neonatal. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.