Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

SUMMARY Limited fingerjoint mobility was assessed in 112 diabetic children, in their first-degree relatives, and in 50 unrelated non-diabetic children. In 42 % of the diabetic children there was limited joint mobility, but 14% of them had more severe involvement. Limited joint mobility was correlated with increasing age, early presentation, and longer duration of diabetes. First-degree relatives of affected diabetic children had a higher incidence (35%) of limited joint mobility compared with relatives of nonaffected diabetic children (13%).Limited joint mobility or deformity was described in early reports of diabetic dwarfism and was assumed to indicate poor metabolic control. Recently limited joint mobility has been increasingly recognised among insulin-dependent or type I diabetics with better diabetic control. Rosenbloom's group1 found limited joint mobility of the hands in 28 % ofjuvenile diabetics attending a diabetic camp. Other groups have reported a prevalence rate of 0-32 %.2-6 We have studied limited joint mobility in the hands of children attending a diabetic clinic, and compared the results with the hands of their families, and with the hands of unrelated non-diabetic children attending hospital.

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