Typical facial clefting and constriction band anomalies: an unusual association in three unrelated patients.

The amniotic band sequence is a rare congenital condition in which it is hypothesized that fibrous band of amniotic tissue result in variable soft tissue derangements. Other terms that have been used to describe this condition are amniotic band syndrome and amnion rupture sequence. Patients may present with craniofacial, thoracic, abdominal, and/or limb involvement. Previous reports have described the association between the amniotic band sequence and unusual patterns of facial clefting, as described by Tessier, that do not follow normal embryonic lines of fusion [Keller et al., 1978; Bagatin et al., 1997]. We describe three successive cases of the amniotic band sequence, which presented with rather typical facial clefts (cleft lip and palate) in unrelated patients. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.