Health's Book

Definition

Achondroplasia is a disorder of bone growth that causes the most common type of dwarfism.

Symptoms

The typical appearance of achondroplastic dwarfism can be seen at birth. Symptoms may include:

* Abnormal hand appearance with persistent space between the long and ring fingers
* Bowed legs
* Decreased muscle tone
* Disproportionately large head-to-body size difference
* Prominent forehead (frontal bossing)
* Shortened arms and legs (especially the upper arm and thigh)
* Short stature (significantly below the average height for a person of the same age and sex)
* Spinal stenosis
* Spine curvatures called kyphosis and lordosis