Nail patella syndrome: a review of 44 orthopaedic patients

Nail patella syndrome is a rare dysplasia with characteristic findings of finger nail abnormalities, hypoplastic patellas, radial head dislocations, and iliac horns. We reviewed the problems and treatment of 44 patients with this syndrome from 13 Shriners Hospital units. The inheritance pattern is autosomal dominant, with foot abnormalities as the chief presenting complaint. All patients were ambulatory. Twenty of the patients underwent knee operations, and 24 underwent operations to correct foot and ankle deformities. Knee extensor realignments and foot posteromedial releases had overall good results. Knee flexion contractures required full posterior capsular releases. Elbow reconstructive procedures were rarely indicated.