Congenital Absence of the Abdominal Muscles

The syndrome of congenital absence of the abdominal muscles associated with other abnormalities, chiefly of the genito-urinary tract, has received little attention in this country. Housden in 1934 reviewed 33 cases reported up to that time and added a further case of his own. Hill's (1947) case does not appear to have been a true example of this condition as there was a large defect of the anterior abdominal wall covered only by peritoneum. Of the four cases presented here, three are examples of the condition while the fourth patient has suffered from recurrent chest infections.