A rare, genetic, primary bone dysplasia disease characterized by usually moderate, postnatal short stature, progressive genu vara deformity, a waddling gait, and radiological signs of metaphyseal dysplasia (i.e. irregular, sclerotic and widened metaphyses), in the absence of biochemical abnormalities suggestive of rickets disease. Intermittent knee pain, lordosis, and delayed motor development may also occasionally be associated.

Kyphomelic dysplasia (KMD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by bowing of the limbs, primarily affecting the femurs. Affected individuals also exhibit short stature, short and wide iliac wings, horizontal acetabular roof, platyspondyly, and metaphyseal flaring. Distinctive facial features have been observed, including prominent forehead, micrognathia, microstomia, cleft palate, and low-set ears (Singh et al., 2025).

Microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPDII), the most common form of microcephalic primordial dwarfism, is characterized by extreme short stature and microcephaly along with distinctive facial features. Associated features that differentiate it from other forms of primordial dwarfism and that may necessitate treatment include: abnormal dentition, a slender bone skeletal dysplasia with hip deformity and/or scoliosis, insulin resistance / diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, cardiac malformations, and global vascular disease. The latter includes neurovascular disease such as moyamoya vasculopathy and intracranial aneurysms (which can lead to strokes), coronary artery disease (which can lead to premature myocardial infarctions), and renal vascular disease. Hypertension, which is also common, can have multiple underlying causes given the complex comorbidities.

A rare genetic primary bone dysplasia disease characterized by progressive osteosclerosis and platyspondyly.

The Al-Awadi/Raas-Rothschild/Schinzel phocomelia syndrome (AARRS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by severe malformations of upper and lower limbs with severely hypoplastic pelvis and abnormal genitalia. The disorder is believed to represent a defect of dorsoventral patterning and outgrowth of limbs (summary by Kantaputra et al., 2010). Overlapping limb reduction syndromes, less severe in nature, that are also caused by homozygous mutation in the WNT7A gene include Fuhrmann syndrome (228930), characterized by fibular aplasia or hypoplasia, femoral bowing, and poly-, syn-, and oligodactyly, and Santos syndrome (228930), characterized by fibular agenesis/hypoplasia, oligodactylous clubfeet, and anonychia/nail hypoplasia. Al-Qattan et al. (2013) stated that AARRS and Fuhrmann syndrome can be differentiated by the following features, which are seen only in AARRS: complete aplasia of 1 or both lower limbs, and absent elbow with radiohumeral synostosis. In addition, the number of digits per hand is 1 to 3 in AARRS, whereas there are 4 to 5 digits in Fuhrmann syndrome. 'Phocomelia' refers to an intercalary limb defect with the hand or foot being directly attached to the humerus or femur (absent zeugopod) or directly attached to the trunk (absent stylopod and zeugopod). AlQattan et al. (2013) stated that the limb defect observed in Schinzel phocomelia syndrome represents 'true' phocomelia, whereas the limb defect in AARRS is an 'apparent' phocomelia, in which there is absent ulna with radiohumeral synostosis. The authors described 3 radiologic features that define 'apparent' phocomelia: a single arm/forearm bone that appears too long to be the humerus alone; a thicker cortex at the area of the radiohumeral synostosis, with or without slight angulation at the site of synostosis; and the apparently single bone resembling the humerus proximally and the radius distally. The authors also noted that phocomelia is not a feature of the allelic disorder Fuhrmann syndrome (228930). Other distinguishing features of Schinzel phocomelia syndrome include normal nails and dorsal hand skin; distoproximal gradient of lower limb defects, without a resultant stick-like appearance; and a characteristic large cranial defect. AlQattan et al. (2013) concluded that Schinzel phocomelia syndrome and AARRS are distinct phenotypes.

Cousin syndrome is an autosomal recessive complex cranial, cervical, auricular, and skeletal malformation syndrome with scapular and pelvic hypoplasia (summary by Lausch et al., 2008).

Sedaghatian-type spondylometaphyseal dysplasia (SMDS) is a rare lethal disorder characterized by severe metaphyseal chondrodysplasia with mild limb shortening, platyspondyly, delayed epiphyseal ossification, irregular iliac crests, and pulmonary hemorrhage. Affected infants present with severe hypotonia and cardiorespiratory problems; most die within days of birth due to respiratory failure. Cardiac abnormalities include conduction defects, complete heart block, and structural anomalies. Half of infants with SMDS are reported to have central nervous system malformations consistent with abnormal neuronal migration, including agenesis of the corpus callosum, pronounced frontotemporal pachygyria, simplified gyral pattern, partial lissencephaly, and severe cerebellar hypoplasia (summary by Smith et al., 2014).

Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) is a peroxisomal disorder characterized by disproportionately short stature primarily affecting the proximal parts of the extremities, a typical facial appearance including a broad nasal bridge, epicanthus, high-arched palate, dysplastic external ears, and micrognathia, congenital contractures, characteristic ocular involvement, dwarfism, and severe mental retardation with spasticity. Biochemically, plasmalogen synthesis and phytanic acid alpha-oxidation are defective. Most patients die in the first decade of life. RCDP1 (215100) is the most frequent form of RCDP (summary by Wanders and Waterham, 2005). Whereas RCDP1 is a peroxisomal biogenesis disorder (PBD), RCDP2 is classified as a single peroxisome enzyme deficiency (Waterham and Ebberink, 2012). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, see 215100.

RNU4atac-opathy encompasses the phenotypic spectrum of biallelic RNU4ATAC pathogenic variants, including the three historically designated clinical phenotypes microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type I/III (MOPDI), Roifman syndrome, and Lowry-Wood syndrome, as well as varying combinations of the disease features / system involvement that do not match specific defined phenotypes. Findings present in all affected individuals include growth restriction, microcephaly, skeletal dysplasia, and cognitive impairment. Less common but variable findings include brain anomalies, seizures, strokes, immunodeficiency, and cardiac anomalies, as well as ophthalmologic, skin, renal, gastrointestinal, hearing, and endocrine involvement.

SADDAN dysplasia (severe achondroplasia with developmental delay and acanthosis nigricans) is a very rare skeletal dysplasia characterized by the constellation of these features. Radiology reveals 'ram's horn' shaped clavicles and reverse bowing of lower limbs. Approximately half of patients die before the fourth week of life secondary to respiratory failure (summary by Zankl et al., 2008).

Short stature, amelogenesis imperfecta, and skeletal dysplasia with scoliosis (SSASKS)is characterized by disproportionate short stature, defective tooth enamel formation, and skeletal dysplasia with severe scoliosis in some patients. Variable features include facial dysmorphism, moderate hearing impairment, and mildly impaired intellectual development (Ashikov et al., 2018).

Acromesomelic dysplasia-4 (AMD4) is characterized by disproportionate short stature due to mesomelic shortening of the limbs. Radiographic hallmarks include mild to moderate platyspondyly, moderate brachydactyly, iliac flaring, and metaphyseal alterations of the long bones that progressively increase with age (Diaz-Gonzalez et al., 2022). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of acromesomelic dysplasia, see AMD1 (602875).

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome-8 with rhizomelic short stature (AHUS8) is an X-linked disorder with variable manifestations. The age at onset of renal symptoms is variable, ranging from infancy to the early twenties. Features of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) include acute renal dysfunction with proteinuria, thrombotic microangiopathy, anemia, thrombocytopenia, increased serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and schistocytes on peripheral blood smear. Affected individuals also have short stature with short limbs. More variable features include immunodeficiency with recurrent infections, developmental delay, and dysmorphic features. Treatment with C5 inhibitors results in improvement of renal function. Female carriers may show an attenuated phenotype (Hadar et al., 2023; Erger et al., 2023). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of aHUS, see AHUS1 (235400).