Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia

Type

 

Disproportionate dwarfism with a short trunk

 

Problems with dwarfism, spine, vision and hearing

 

Definition

 

Primary involvement of vertebrae & epiphyseal centres of limbs

 

Resulting short-trunk dwarfism

- Limb are short, but trunk is even shorter

 

(cf Metaphyseal Chondrodysplasia - Short limbed Dwarf)

 

Types

 

Congenita

- AD, usually spontaneous mutation

- more severe, early

 

Tarda

- X linked recessive

- late presentation

- spine and hips

 

Pathology

 

Defect Type II Collagen Gene

- Disorder of growth plate

- Abnormality of Proliferative zone - Microcystic areas

- Surrounded by ring of abnormal chondrocytes

 

Clinical Features

 

Short limbs

- Rhizomelic - short proximal segment

- Normal hands & legs

 

Shorter trunk 

- Neck almost absent

 

Hip FFD

- Increases lumbar lordosis

 

Genu valgum

 

Club foot

 

Adolescent kyphoscoliosis

 

Also

- Cleft palate

- Pectus carinatum & barrel-shaped chest

- Protruberant abdomen

 

DDx 

 

Morquio's disease

- But shortening in distal limb segments (acromelic)

- Urinalysis = Keratan Sulphate excretion

- hands and feet severely affected

 

Achondroplasia

- normal trunk

- abnormal face

- nil platyspondyly

- rhizomelia - short long bones

 

Medical Complications

 

Eye problems common

- Myopia

- Retinal detachment

 

Radiology

 

Epiphyses appear late (like MED)

 

Spine

 

Platyspondyly 

- Flatten or oval vertebral bodies

 

Schmorl's nodes - indentations of end plates

 

Irregularity of the vertebral bodies ring epiphyses

 

Odontoid hypoplasia

 

Thoracic kyphoscoliosis

- Usually progresses and should be braced early, may need fusion

 

Lumbar lordosis 

 

Neck

 

Odontoid hypoplasia 

- atlantoaxial subluxation

- Cord compression result in cervical myelopathy

 

Treat with posterior atlantoaxial or occipitoaxial fusion

 

Hip

 

Delayed ossification of capital femoral epiphysis

- Coxa vara - valgising IT osteotomy

- Varus may progress to discontinuity of femoral neck

- May be progressive dislocation