Disproportionate Dwarfism Flashcards
Achondroplasia Pseudoachondroplasia Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Diastrophic Dsyplasia Kneist's Dysplasia Metaphyseal Dysplasia
What is achondroplasia?
- The most common cause of disproportionate dwarfism

What is the genetics of achondroplasia?
- Autosomal dominant
- caused by mutation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) on chromosome 4P
- changes lysine to argentine at position 380
-
sporadic mutation in >80% cases
- Risk increases with advanced paternal age
What does this gene mutation cause?
- Abnormal chondroid production by chondroblasts in the PROLIFERATIVE ZONE during enchondral bone formation at the physis
- A quantative rather than qualitative cartilage defect
- sporadic mutation in 80% cases

What is the conditions is achondroplasia associated with?
-
Lumbar stenosis
- short pedicles
- most likely to cause disability
-
Thoracolumbar kyphosis
- may cause neurological symptoms
-
Foramen magnum and upper cervical stenosis
- may cause periods of apnea
What is pseudoachondroplasia?
- An autosmal dominant condition that is clinically similar to achondroplasia
- caused by a defect in the Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) on chromosome 19
How does pseudoachondroplasia differ form achondroplasia?
Pseusoachondroplasia has
- Normal facies
- associated with CERVICAL INSTABILITY due to ondontoid hypoplasia,
- absence of spinal stenosis

What are the symptoms of achondroplasia?
- Normal IQ
- Delayed motor milestones
-
Symptoms of spinal stenosis
- pseudoclaudication and standing discomfort
- Numbness and parathesia
- Subjective weakness
What is this

- A trident hand
- Characterstic splaying of 2-4th digits along the ap axis in the plane of the palmwith relatively normal positioning of thumb and little finger
What are the physical feature of Achondroplasia?
- Classic RHIZOMELIC dwarfism
-
humerus and femurs shorter than forearms and tibia
- adult height 50 inches
- NORMAL trunk
-
humerus and femurs shorter than forearms and tibia
-
Facial features
- frontal bosssing
- button noses
- small nasal bridges
- Hands
- TRIDENT- inabilty to approixmate extended middle and ring fingers
- Bowed legs
- radial head subluxation
- muscular hypotonia
- spine
- thoracolumbar kyphosis
- excessive lordosis- short predicles

What are the X-ray appearance of pelvis in achondroplasia ?
- Pelvis
- champagne glass pelvis - wider than deep, flattened acetabulum, square iliac wings

What is this?

- Posterior Vertebral Scalloping

What is seen on the spinal radiographs?
- short pedicles with decreased interpedicular distance form L1-S1
- T12/L1 vertebral wedging
- posterior spine scalloping

What is the tx for spinal kyphosis?
non op bracing operative- anterior strut corpectomy and post fusion if kyphosis >60 degrees
When in MRi useful in achondroplasia?
- to evaluate Cervical stenosis
- suspected foramen magnum stenosis

What is the tx of spinal kyphosis in achondroplasia?
non operative
- bracing
- first line in mild curves
Surgery
-
Anterior strut corpectomy and posterior fusion
- when kyphosis >60o by 5 yrs
- bracing failed
What is the tx for foramen magnum stenosis in achondroplasia?
Surgery
- Urgent decompression
- when cord compression is present
What is the tx for lumbar stenosis in achondroplasia?
Non operative
- Weight loss, physical therapy, corticosteriod injections
Surgery
- mutlilevel LAMINECTOMY and fusion
- w spinal stenosis w severe symptoms
- non op mx failed
What is the tx for short stature in achondroplasia?
Surgery
- Limb lengthening thru metaphyseal corticotomy- controversial due to high risk of complications
What is the tx for genu varum in achondroplasia?
Surgery
-
Tibial osteotomies or hemiepiphysiodesis
- symptoms are severe
- non op modalities have failed
What is Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MEN)?
- a form of dwarfism characterized by Irregular, delayed ossification at multiple epiphyses
- caused by failure of formation of secondary ossification centre ( epiphysis)

Describe the genetics of Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia?
- Autosomal Dominant
- Defect in cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) on chromosome 19- most common & severe form
- mutations in COL9A1, COL9A2, COL9A3
- codes for type IX collagen
- causes Type 2 collagen dysfunction because of type IX collagen acts as a link protein for type 2 collagen
***NB MEN in white COLLars**
What are the symptoms of pts with Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia?
- short limbed dwarfism
- Joint pain
- Often don’t manifest until ages 5-14 yrs
- waddling gait
Signs
- joint deformities from joint incongruity
- Valgus knee common
- early OA
- Joint contractures common
- spine usually normal
What is seen on pelvic radiographs with Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia?
-
Bilateral epiphyseal defects
- may mimic Legg-calves perthes
- difference in Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia is hips are simultaneous and bilateral

What is seen in knee xrays w Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia?
- Valgus knee
- tibial “slant sign”
- Double layer patella











