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Bowed humerus

MedGen UID:
395269
Concept ID:
C1859460
Finding
Synonyms: Bowed humeri; Bowing of humerus; Humeral bowing
 
HPO: HP:0003865

Definition

A bending or abnormal curvature of the humerus. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • Bowed humerus

Conditions with this feature

Kyphomelic dysplasia
MedGen UID:
140930
Concept ID:
C0432239
Disease or Syndrome
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).
Al-Gazali syndrome
MedGen UID:
373020
Concept ID:
C1836121
Disease or Syndrome
Al-Gazali syndrome (ALGAZ) is characterized by prenatal growth retardation, skeletal anomalies including joint contractures, camptodactyly, and bilateral talipes equinovarus, small mouth, anterior segment eye anomalies, and early lethality (summary by Ben-Mahmoud et al., 2018).
Spondylocarpotarsal synostosis syndrome
MedGen UID:
341339
Concept ID:
C1848934
Disease or Syndrome
The FLNB disorders include a spectrum of phenotypes ranging from mild to severe. At the mild end are spondylocarpotarsal synostosis (SCT) syndrome and Larsen syndrome; at the severe end are the phenotypic continuum of atelosteogenesis types I (AOI) and III (AOIII) and Piepkorn osteochondrodysplasia (POCD). SCT syndrome is characterized by postnatal disproportionate short stature, scoliosis and lordosis, clubfeet, hearing loss, dental enamel hypoplasia, carpal and tarsal synostosis, and vertebral fusions. Larsen syndrome is characterized by congenital dislocations of the hip, knee, and elbow; clubfeet (equinovarus or equinovalgus foot deformities); scoliosis and cervical kyphosis, which can be associated with a cervical myelopathy; short, broad, spatulate distal phalanges; distinctive craniofacies (prominent forehead, depressed nasal bridge, malar flattening, and widely spaced eyes); vertebral anomalies; and supernumerary carpal and tarsal bone ossification centers. Individuals with SCT syndrome and Larsen syndrome can have midline cleft palate and hearing loss. AOI and AOIII are characterized by severe short-limbed dwarfism; dislocated hips, knees, and elbows; and clubfeet. AOI is lethal in the perinatal period. In individuals with AOIII, survival beyond the neonatal period is possible with intensive and invasive respiratory support. Piepkorn osteochondrodysplasia (POCD) is a perinatal-lethal micromelic dwarfism characterized by flipper-like limbs (polysyndactyly with complete syndactyly of all fingers and toes, hypoplastic or absent first digits, and duplicated intermediate and distal phalanges), macrobrachycephaly, prominant forehead, hypertelorism, and exophthalmos. Occasional features include cleft palate, omphalocele, and cardiac and genitourinary anomalies. The radiographic features at mid-gestation are characteristic.
Osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism, type 1
MedGen UID:
347149
Concept ID:
C1859452
Disease or Syndrome
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.
Spondylometaphyseal dysplasia, Schmidt type
MedGen UID:
356595
Concept ID:
C1866688
Disease or Syndrome
The Algerian type of spondylometaphyseal dysplasia (SMDALG) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by a short trunk and severe genu valgum. Myopia may be present. The radiologic hallmarks include moderate platyspondyly, particularly with dorsal vertebral flattening, and short ilia with narrow greater sciatic notches. There is generalized metaphyseal dysplasia of the long bones, most conspicuous in the hip and knee and associated with coxa vara and severe genu valgum. The short tubular bones are mildly affected, and epiphyses of the tubular bones are said to be normal (Matsubayashi et al., 2013).
Osteogenesis imperfecta type 17
MedGen UID:
903845
Concept ID:
C4225301
Disease or Syndrome
Other types of osteogenesis imperfecta are more severe, causing frequent bone fractures that are present at birth and result from little or no trauma. Additional features of these types can include blue sclerae of the eyes, short stature, curvature of the spine (scoliosis), joint deformities (contractures), hearing loss, respiratory problems, and a disorder of tooth development called dentinogenesis imperfecta. Mobility can be reduced in affected individuals, and some may use a walker or wheelchair. The most severe forms of osteogenesis imperfecta, particularly type II, can include an abnormally small, fragile rib cage and underdeveloped lungs. Infants with these abnormalities may have life-threatening problems with breathing and can die shortly after birth.\n\nOsteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a group of genetic disorders that mainly affect the bones. The term "osteogenesis imperfecta" means imperfect bone formation. People with this condition have bones that break (fracture) easily, often from mild trauma or with no apparent cause. Multiple fractures are common, and in severe cases, can occur even before birth. Milder cases may involve only a few fractures over a person's lifetime.\n\nThere are at least 19 recognized forms of osteogenesis imperfecta, designated type I through type XIX. Several types are distinguished by their signs and symptoms, although their characteristic features overlap. Increasingly, genetic causes are used to define rarer forms of osteogenesis imperfecta. Type I (also known as classic non-deforming osteogenesis imperfecta with blue sclerae) is the mildest form of osteogenesis imperfecta. Type II (also known as perinatally lethal osteogenesis imperfecta) is the most severe. Other types of this condition, including types III (progressively deforming osteogenesis imperfecta) and IV (common variable osteogenesis imperfecta with normal sclerae), have signs and symptoms that fall somewhere between these two extremes.\n\nThe milder forms of osteogenesis imperfecta, including type I, are characterized by bone fractures during childhood and adolescence that often result from minor trauma, such as falling while learning to walk. Fractures occur less frequently in adulthood. People with mild forms of the condition typically have a blue or grey tint to the part of the eye that is usually white (the sclera), and about half develop hearing loss in adulthood. Unlike more severely affected individuals, people with type I are usually of normal or near normal height.
Regressive spondylometaphyseal dysplasia
MedGen UID:
1648288
Concept ID:
C4747922
Disease or Syndrome
Rhizomelic skeletal dysplasia with or without Pelger-Huet anomaly (SKPHA) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by rhizomelic skeletal dysplasia of variable severity with or without abnormal nuclear shape and chromatin organization in blood granulocytes (Hoffmann et al., 2002; Borovik et al., 2013; Collins et al., 2020). Initial skeletal features may improve with age (Sobreira et al., 2014).
Humerofemoral hypoplasia with radiotibial ray deficiency
MedGen UID:
1648393
Concept ID:
C4747940
Congenital Abnormality
Humerofemoral hypoplasia with radiotibial ray deficiency (HHRRD) is a severe dysostosis characterized by reduction of all 4 limbs as well as hypoplasia of the upper limb girdle and pelvis. Rudimentary finger- or toe-like appendages may be present (Szenker-Ravi et al., 2018).
Short-rib thoracic dysplasia 21 without polydactyly
MedGen UID:
1794171
Concept ID:
C5561961
Disease or Syndrome
Short-rib thoracic dysplasia-21 (SRTD21) is characterized by rhizomelic limb shortening with bowing of long bones and metaphyseal abnormalities, narrow chest with short broad ribs, and trident pelvis. Other features include hypotonia and global developmental delay, with corpus callosum hypoplasia and cerebellar vermis abnormalities on brain imaging, which may show the 'molar tooth' sign (Hammarsjo et al., 2017). For a general phenotypic description and discussion of genetic heterogeneity of SRTD, see SRTD1 (208500). Mutation in the KIAA0753 gene also causes orofaciodigital syndrome (OFD15; 617127) and Joubert syndrome (JBTS28; 619476), phenotypes with features overlapping those of SRTD21.
Bent bone dysplasia syndrome 2
MedGen UID:
1824006
Concept ID:
C5774233
Disease or Syndrome
Bent bone dysplasia syndrome-2 (BBDS2) is characterized by defects in both the axial and appendicular skeleton, with radiographic findings of undermineralized bone and a distinct angulation of the mid femoral shaft. Extraskeletal features include facial dysmorphisms, abnormally formed ears with tags, widely spaced nipples, and atrial septal defects. Abnormalities of muscle function are suggested by the presence of elbow fusions, ulnar flexion contractions at the wrist, and bilateral talipes equinovarus, as well as failure to mount a respiratory effort at birth (Barad et al., 2020). For a general phenotypic description and discussion of genetic heterogeneity of bent bone dysplasia syndrome, see BBDS1 (614592).

Professional guidelines

PubMed

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Recent clinical studies

Etiology

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Sherk HH, Probst C
Orthop Clin North Am 1975 Apr;6(2):401-13. PMID: 1093088

Diagnosis

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Therapy

Grossman LS, Price AL, Rush ET, Goodwin JL, Wallace MJ, Esposito PW
J Pediatr Orthop 2018 Oct;38(9):484-489. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000000856. PMID: 27662385
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Prognosis

Uludağ Alkaya D, Uyguner ZO, Güneş N, Tüysüz B
Am J Med Genet A 2022 May;188(5):1639-1646. Epub 2022 Jan 29 doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62664. PMID: 35092157
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Clinical prediction guides

Marwan Y, Abu Dalu K, Hamdy RC, Janelle C, Fassier F
J Pediatr Orthop 2022 Feb 1;42(2):e224-e228. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002023. PMID: 34995264
Cha SM, Shin HD, Ahn JS
J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2016 Feb;25(2):289-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2015.10.014. PMID: 26775092
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Tiegs RD
Clin Ther 1997 Nov-Dec;19(6):1309-29; discussion 1523-4. doi: 10.1016/s0149-2918(97)80007-0. PMID: 9444442

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