The horseshoe kidney is a congenital anomaly where in the kidneys are actually fuse together to form a horseshoe shape during conception, while the fetus is still being developed. It is associated with other underlying genetical disorders. Usually, the binding of the kidneys can be classified in to two; the crossed fused ectopia and the most common, the horseshoe kidney or renal fusion. The horseshoe kidney is a very frequent anomaly that affects 1 out of 400 people.

Symptoms of the horseshoe kidney usually include nausea, recurring urinary tract infection, kidney stones and abdominal discomfort. Vesicouteral reflux makes the kidneys prone to infection. Horseshoe kidneys are often asymptomatic. They are usually discovered in the autopsy but it is important to be aware of this condition especially when it actually increases your chance in getting kidney stones, kidney obstruction, and kidney cancer such as wilm's tumor, transitional cell carcinoma, and carcinoid tumors. Kidney obstruction is caused by the abnormal presentation of the kidney that leads to abnormal placement of the ureter. It then decreases urine flow and repeated infection that may develop in to kidney stones.

The cause of the horseshoe kidney is often associated with trisomy 18. Congenital defect is most likely to play a role for this condition. According to wrongdiagnosis.com, some underlying causes of horseshoe kidney are as follows: Brachyphalangy, polydactyly, and tibial aplasia/hypoplasia, Caudal duplication, chromosomal abberations, Faciocardiorenal syndrome, Focal dermal hypoplasia, Turner Syndrome, WAGR Syndrome, Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies and mental retardation.

Horseshoe kidney can be diagnosed by UTI detection, bladder tests, MRIs, CT scans and ultrasounds. It is often asymptomatic and treatment is usually to control or give medical attention to the symptoms and not so much about the cause. Another thing would be to visit a urology specialist or your physician and inquire about the treatments available as an option.  The condition doesn't impede nor keep you from living a normal life. If you think having horseshoe kidney can prevent you from living normal, tell that to Mel Gibson. Yes, he has it.