Evalulation of thalidomide children.

All children suffering from thalidomide embryopathy should undergo a careful clinical and radiographic follow-up examination. This frequently detects hidden defects, especially of the spine and hip joints. It is clear that defects are frequently present, though unsuspected by the clinical examination. A special problem which needs further investigation is the alteration of the knee joints, which has also often been overlooked; Early osteoarthritis is expected to occur in the future. There is an urgent need for additional study of the general functional capacity and also the manual efficiency of the children under consideration for their occupational integration. We shall be engaged with this problem in future studies.