title: Orthopaedic manifestations of Brachmann-de Lange syndrome: a report of 34 patients.
abstract: Brachmann-de Lange syndrome (BDLS) is a disorder of unknown cause that is recognized on the basis of characteristic facies in association with growth retardation, mental retardation and, in many cases, upper limb anomalies. Because of its association with skeletal anomalies, patients with the syndrome are often referred to the paediatric orthopaedic surgeon. Thirty-four patients with Brachmann-de Lange syndrome were evaluated for the prevalence and pattern of musculoskeletal involvement. The average age of the patients was 10.2 years (range, 1 month to 44 years). Both sexes were affected equally. The common orthopaedic manifestation affected the hand (100%), elbow (47%), and the heel cord (26%). Severe bony anomalies included complete absence of the hand in one case, and ulna hemimelia in two cases. In two patients bilateral Legg-Perthes-like changes were noted. Scoliosis presented in four cases, all before the age of 10 years. Surgery was performed in two patients with severe bilateral equinovarus feet. Despite the constellation of musculoskeletal findings, most of the patients did not have surgical intervention for their deformities.
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. andreas.roposch@utoronot.ca
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roposch
authors.forename: Atul R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sanya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adedapo
authors.forename: Maryline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mousny
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Alman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003635:De Lange Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D004480:Ectromelia / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000002:abnormalities; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000209:etiology