The skeletal dysplasias are a group of conditions characterized by abnormalities in the growth, development, shape, or integrity of the bones and cartilage. They can lead to a wide variety of medical problems, but the most common feature among them is dwarfism (defined as having a final adult height below 4’10”).
Most skeletal dysplasias result from a spontaneous genetic mutation at or before conception. Children with skeletal dysplasias have multiple medical and social needs, many of which are unique to their condition.
Skeletal Dysplasia: The Nemours Difference
The Skeletal Dysplasia Program at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children is one of the world's foremost centers in the treatment of skeletal dysplasia, offering expert, state-of-the-art medical and surgical care for children with dwarfism. Our goal is to maximize your child’s mobility, correct deformity, and prevent future complications.
About one out of every 10,000 babies – only a fraction of 1% of the U.S. population – has dwarfism. Many pediatricians and obstetricians lack the experience to diagnose and care for them. That's why more than 250 short-statured children from around the world come to duPont each year to get what they can't find at home – expert recommendations from a clinic that treats these children from both a genetic and orthopedic perspective.
Our doctors, counselors, nurses, and staff are uniquely qualified and share a strong commitment to the long-term health and well-being of our patients and their families. Together, we have over 85 years of experience in the diagnosis and management of children with skeletal dysplasias.
It's comforting for parents to know that their child’s complex medical and surgical needs can be met in one place. If your child needs to see multiple specialists, we share our findings with each other so that treatment is a true collaboration.
Nationwide, there are about a half dozen clinics that treat children and adults with skeletal dysplasia. But our reputation for diagnosing and treating tough cases has made us a favorite among families. Parents tout our program in online forums for families of little people.
Among the Conditions We Treat
- Achondroplasia
- Campomelic dysplasia
- Cartilage hair hypoplasia
- Diastrophic dysplasia
- Ellis-Van Creveld dysplasia
- Hypochondroplasia
- Kniest dysplasia
- Limb-length discrepancy
- Metatropic dysplasia
- Morquio syndrome
- Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia
- Primordial dwarfism
- Pseudoachondroplasia
- Skeletal dysplasia
- Spondylo-epiphyseal dysplasia
- Thanatophoric dysplasia