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Copyright 1987, 1989, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007
Synonyms of Diastrophic Dysplasia
- DD
- Diastrophic Dwarfism
- Diastrophic Nanism Syndrome
- DTD
Disorder Subdivisions
General Discussion
Diastrophic dysplasia, which is also known as disastrophic dwarfism, is a rare disorder that is present at birth (congenital). The range and severity of associated symptoms and physical findings may vary greatly from case to case. However, the disorder is often characterized by short stature and unusually short arms and legs (short-limbed dwarfism); abnormal development of bones (skeletal dysplasia) and joints (joint dysplasia) in many areas of the body; progressive abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis and/or kyphosis); abnormal tissue changes of the outer, visible portions of the ears (pinnae); and/or, in some cases, malformations of the head and facial (craniofacial) area.
In most infants with diastrophic dysplasia, the first bone within the body of each hand (first metacarpals) may be unusually small and "oval shaped," causing the thumbs to deviate away (abduction) from the body ("hitchhiker thumbs"). Other fingers may also be abnormally short (brachydactyly) and joints between certain bones of the fingers (proximal interphalangeal joints) may become fused (symphalangism), causing limited flexion and restricted movement of the finger joints. Affected infants also typically have severe foot deformities (talipes or "clubfeet") due to abnormal deviation and fusion of certain bones within the body of each foot (metatarsals). In addition, many children with the disorder experience limited extension, partial (subluxation) or complete dislocation, and/or permanent flexion and immobilization (contractures) of certain joints.
In most infants with diastrophic dysplasia, there is also incomplete closure of bones of the spinal column (spina bifida occulta) within the neck area and the upper portion of the back (lower cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae). In addition, during the first year of life, some affected children may begin to develop progressive abnormal sideways curvature of the spine (scoliosis). During adolescence, individuals with the disorder may also develop abnormal front-to-back curvature of the spine (kyphosis), particularly affecting vertebrae within the neck area (cervical vertebrae). In severe cases, progressive kyphosis may lead to difficulties breathing (respiratory distress). Some individuals may also be prone to experiencing partial dislocation (subluxation) of joints between the central areas (bodies) of cervical vertebrae, potentially resulting in spinal cord injury. Such injury may cause muscle weakness (paresis) or paralysis and/or life-threatening complications.
In addition, most newborns with diastrophic dysplasia have or develop abnormal fluid-filled sacs (cysts) within the outer, visible portions of the ears (pinnae). Within the first weeks of life, the pinnae become swollen and inflamed and unusually firm, thick, and abnormal in shape. Over time, the abnormal areas of tissue (lesions) may accumulate deposits of calcium salts (calcification) and eventually develop into bone (ossification). Some affected infants may also have abnormalities of the head and facial (craniofacial) area including incomplete closure of the roof of the mouth (cleft palate) and/or abnormal smallness of the jaws (micrognathia). In addition, in some affected infants, abnormalities of supportive connective tissue (cartilage) within the windpipe (trachea), voice box (larynx), and certain air passages in the lungs (bronchi) may result in collapse of these airways, causing life-threatening complications such as respiratory obstruction and difficulties breathing. In some individuals with the disorder, additional symptoms and physical findings may also be present. Diastrophic dysplasia is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
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Organizations related to Diastrophic Dysplasia
- AmeriFace
PO Box 751112
Las Vegas NV 89136
Phone #: 702-769-9264
800 #: 888-486-1209
e-mail: info@ameriface.org
Home page: http://www.ameriface.org
- Cleft Palate Foundation
1504 East Franklin Street
Suite 102
Chapel Hill NC 27514-2820
Phone #: 919-933-9044
800 #: 800-242-5338
e-mail: info@cleftline.org
Home page: http://www.cleftline.org
- European Skeletal Dysplasia Network (ESDN)
Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research
Faculty of Life Sciences
University of Manchester
Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road
Manchester None M13 9PT
Phone #: 44 -161- 275 5642
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@esdn.org
Home page: http://www.esdn.org
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: ordr@od.nih.gov
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx
- Human Growth Foundation
997 Glen Cove Avenue
Glen Head NY 11545
Phone #: 516-671-4041
800 #: 800-451-6434
e-mail: hgf1@hgfound.org
Home page: http://www.hgfound.org/
- Little People of America, Inc.
250 El Camino Real
Suite 201
Tustin CA 92780
Phone #: 714-368-3689
800 #: 888-572-2001
e-mail: info@lpaonline.org
Home page: http://www.lpaonline.org
- MAGIC Foundation
6645 W. North Avenue
Oak Park IL 60302
Phone #: 708-383-0808
800 #: 800-362-4423
e-mail: mary@magicfoundation.org
Home page: http://www.magicfoundation.org
- MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: mums@netnet.net
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains NY 10605
Phone #: 914-997-4488
800 #: 888-663-4637
e-mail: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Home page: http://www.marchofdimes.com
- NIH/National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda MD 20892-3675
Phone #: 301-495-4484
800 #: 877-226-4267
e-mail: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info
- NIH/National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (Preg & Perinat)
Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch
6100 Executive Blvd Rm 4B03
Bethesda MD 20892-7510
Phone #: 301-496-5575
800 #: --
e-mail: BOCKR@mail.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.nichd.nih.gov
- NIH/National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (Balance)
National Temporal Bone, Hearing
and Balance Pathology Resource Registry
Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
243 Charles Street
Boston MA 02114-3096
Phone #: --
800 #: 800-822-1327
e-mail: TBRegistry@meei.harvard.edu
Home page: http://www.tbregistry.org
- National Spinal Cord Injury Association
6701 Democracy
Suite 300-9
Bethesda MD 20817
Phone #: 301-214-4006
800 #: 800-962-9629
e-mail: info@spinalcord.org
Home page: http://www.spinalcord.org
- Prescription Parents
Prescription Parent, Inc.
P.O. Box 920554
Needham MA 02492
Phone #: 617-499-1936
800 #: --
e-mail: info@prescriptionparents.org
Home page: http://www.prescriptionparents.com
- Spinal Cord Injury Network International
3911 Princeton Drive
Santa Rosa CA 95405-7013
Phone #: 707-577-8796
800 #: 800-548-2673
e-mail: library@spinalcordinjury.org
Home page: http://www.spinalcordinjury.org
- Wide Smiles
P.O. Box 5153
Stockton CA 95205-0153
Phone #: 209-942-2812
800 #: --
e-mail: JoSmiles@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.widesmiles.org
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