VACTERL association

INFORMATION

The association VACTERL is a "syndromic" association of many common multisystem anomalies. VACTERL stands for vertebral, anal, cardiac, tracheal, esophageal, renal and limbic. It occurs in 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 40,000 births.

Many patients have at least three of the above systemic associations.

Vertebral anomalies predominate (covering 60-80% of patients) and may include vertebral anastomoses, missing vertebrae (atresias) and even additional vertebral bodies. Surgery may be required to correct severe angular spinal deformities and/or spinal stenosis. Similarly, anal arthrocentesis is common, requiring immediate surgical intervention shortly after birth; it is often associated with other urogenital anomalies.

Most commonly associated with heart defects include atrial septal and ventricular septal defects (ASD/VSD), Tetralogy of Fallot; less likely but reported are Arterial Trunk and Transposition of the Great Vessel (TGV). Tracheoesophageal fistulas are common, requiring earlier surgical intervention to correct them.

Renal dysfunction includes missing or malformed kidneys and/or vesicoureteral reflux.

See other entries

October 15, 2026

How to Properly Care for a Stump After Amputation? A Practical Guide

Stump care following amputation is an important part of regaining mobility, preparing for prosthetic fitting, and preventing skin and functional complications. Proper hygiene, daily skin monitoring, edema management, correct limb positioning, and rehabilitation help create the conditions for proper healing and continued improvement. However, the course of treatment depends on the level of amputation, the reason for the procedure, the condition of the wound, and the treatment method used. […]

October 10, 2026

Hollow Foot – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options

A high arch (pes cavus) is a deformity in which the longitudinal arch of the foot is excessively arched. The mere presence of a high arch does not always indicate a medical condition—for some people, it is simply a variation in foot structure that causes no symptoms. The problem arises when the increased arch is associated with abnormal weight distribution, pain, ankle instability, toe deformity, or […]

October 1, 2026

Aplasia—What Is It, and What Are Its Causes?

Aplasia is a developmental disorder in which a specific tissue, structure, or organ does not develop properly or does not reach full maturity. In orthopedics, this term may refer, among other things, to the underdevelopment or absence of a portion of a bone, a limb, a segment of a limb, or specific structures of the musculoskeletal system. The extent of the abnormalities varies widely—from minor underdevelopment of a single […]