Spine
The cervical spine should be monitored for the presence of atlantoaxial instability. Lateral flexion-extension x-rays of the cervical spine is recommended, if a pre-existing abnormality such as hypoplastic odontoid is present. Posterior cervical decompression and fusion should be performed if the instability exceeds 8 mm or neurological symptoms (cervical myelopathy) occur. Scoliosis should be looked for and is managed similar to idiopathic curves. Lateral c-spine x-rays should be routinely obtained in all children with pseudoachondroplasia undergoing surgery for any reason.
Lower Limbs
Angular deformities around the knee are corrected using osteotomies. Careful pre-operative planning is essential to restore normal mechanical axes in sagittal and coronal planes (down the middle of the body). Since the epiphyses are distorted, intraoperative arthrography may be necessary to properly visualize the joint surfaces. The effect of ligamentous laxity on alignment should be ascertained as part of the pre-operative planning. Recurrence of deformity is common and several procedures may be necessary to achieve lower extremity skeletal alignment at maturity. Up to 50% of adults will require joint replacement surgery for early onset degenerative arthritis. Hip/ knee replacement surgery in patients with skeletal dysplasia is a technically demanding exercise due to abnormal skeletal size and shape. Subluxation of the hips is a combination of femoral deformity, failure of epiphyseal ossification, acetabular dysplasia (failure of hip socket development), and joint contractures (flexion and adduction). A combination of femoral and pelvic osteotomies may be necessary. Since the femoral head is flattened, a valgus proximal femoral osteotomy is preferred to a varus procedure. If the hip joint is not congruous, acetabular augmentation procedures (Chiari osteotomy or Shelf procedure) are used to salvage the hip.