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At a glance

Genetic disorder involving the craniofacial, oral, and osseous structures, characterized by short stature, unusual facies, cleft palate, and multiple skeletal malformations. More severe form. Usually psychomotor development is normal, but some affected individuals are mentally retarded. Affected males show a very high incidence of neonatal and infancy death.

Synonyms

Cranioorodigital Syndrome; Faciopalatoosseous (FPO) Syndrome.

Incidence

More than 20 cases have been reported.

Genetic inheritance

As in Otopalatodigital Syndrome Type I, X-linked transmission with intermediate expression in females and complete expression in males.

Pathophysiology

Gain of function mutations in FLNA—a gene that encodes filamin A, which regulates reorganization of the cytoskeleton.

Diagnosis

Clinical based on the association of characteristic facies and limb defects that can be confirmed radiologically. The presence of other affected male relatives in the maternal family makes diagnosis easier. Female carriers may present some milder features of the syndrome.

Clinical aspects

Affected patients have characteristic facies with severe micrognathia, microstomia, cleft palate, posteriorly rotated ears, prominent forehead, hypertelorism, and midfacial hypoplasia. They also present skeletal anomalies consisting of broad and short thumbs and halluces associated with short first and second metacarpals/metatarsals on the radiographs, bowing of the long bones, subluxation of many joints in the upper and lower limb, flexed overlapping fingers, clinodactyly, syndactyly of digits 3 and 4, and syndactyly of toes 2 to 5. Other features have been described, such as conductive deafness, growth failure, omphalocele, and other midline defects. Possible anomalies of the cervical spine. In affected boys, death often occurs before age 5 months as a consequence of respiratory insufficiency induced by recurrent aspiration and infection.

Precautions before anesthesia

Chest radiograph to rule out pulmonary infection. Radiograph of the spine to rule out cervical anomalies. Perform careful evaluation of the airway.

Anesthetic considerations

Patients present multiple craniofacial features that may render direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation difficult, so different intubating devices should be readily available. Potentially difficult intravenous access.

Pharmacological implications

No known implications.

Other conditions to be considered

The similarity of the otopalatodigital spectrum disorders indicates a common biochemical and/or genetic etiology in their pathogenesis.

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