Achondroplasia

Achondroplasia is characterized as disproportionate dwarfism with short limbs, an average adult height of 125 cm. This disease is one of the most common bone dysplasias(incidence 1.5:10,000 live births).

Etiopathogenesis
Achondroplasia is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease, but up to 90% of children are born on the basis of new mutací (the risk factor for new dominant mutations is mainly the older age of the father, especially over 40 years), homozygotes are mostly stillborn. There is a defect in the enchondral ossification of all bones (FGFR3 gene, 4p16.3, perichondral (desmogenous and periosteal) ossification occurs normally. The most pronounced impairment is the growth of long bones. The epiphyses and joint surfaces have a normal shape, the width of the cortical bone is normal.

Clinical picture
Disproportional growth is typical the child is usually hypotonic after birth. The trunk is almost normal in length, but the limbs are very short (micromelia). Center of gravity of the body shifted cranially.

Another feature is a pear-shaped skull an enlarged, widely raised forehead, supraorbital arches and mandible, depression of the nasal cavity (the impression of a wider spacing of the eye sockets).

Proximal segments of the limbs are affected most (rhisomelic form, their growth plates are normally the most active), there is a disproportion of the length of the lower lef to the thigh and forearm to the arm. The hands are short, wide fingers of the same length and shape (microdactyly), a hand similar to a „trident“ (inability to pull the 4th finger to the 3rd when stretched). On the upper limbs, flexion contracture of the elbows appears, often with dislocation of the radial head. They also suffer from angular deformity of the lower limbs (mainly genu varum with varus tibia and a relatively longer fibula).

Hyperlordosis can be observed on the lumbar spine (often with stenosis of the spinal canal, preceded by thoracolumbar hyperkyphosis), in the sacral regionsacrum acutum až sacrum horisontale.

Disabled people have normal, often even above-average intelligence.

Musculature developed normally, soft tissues of limbs folded into folds, internal organs are normally developed.

The average life expectancy is not reduced, some studied even indicate that it is higher, despite the fact that fatal injuries occur more often.

The unusally small height (in adulthood, men average 131 cm, women 124 cm) handicaps the disabled socially (e.g. they cannot reach the light switch, elevator buttons, sink tap, difficulty using public transport).Mobility varies widely. Some can be unusally agile (e.g. Andre Bouchet), but for many of them movement is difficult.

X-ray image
Distinct deformities. Long bones of the limbs shortened with a noticeable widening of the diameter and an increase in density. Expansion of the metaphyses of the tubular bones (caused by the growth cap), the epiphyses have a normal shape. V or U shaped growth plates, arcuate curvature of the diaphyses – most pronounced on lower leg and forearms. Irrgular configuration of hip joints, flat acetabulum. Kidney like aditus pelvis (pelvis widened laterally and shortened anteroposteriorly). Reduced height of vertebral bodies. Cranial base shortened, foramen magnum reduced.

Prenatal diagnostics
Sonographic measurement of femur length, genetic examination (FGFR3 gene).

Therapy
The effect of STH administration is individually variable.

Neurosurgical expansion of the foramen magnum in craniocervical spinal stenosis (risk of sleep apnea syndrome, sudden death, spasticity)

Treatment of thoracolumbar hyperkyphosis with a corset, treatment of spinal stenosis in adults.

Deformities of the diaphyses are corrected by prolongation osteotomy using the Ilizarov technique (the aim is to obtain a body height of around 150 cm) – gradual prolongation in 2-3 stages (simultaneous prolongation of both femurs or tibias / crossed prolongation of the femur and bilateral tibia). Risks: infection, joint and muscle contractures, circulatory complications.

Compensatory aids (e.g. bycicle adapted to height and proportions to facilitate movement)

Differential diagnostic
Lethal forms of dwarfism (thantophoric dwarfism), hypochondroplasia, mucupolysaccaridosis (Morquiuo syndrome).