Spondylocostal dysostosis

Spondylocostal dysostosis is a rare condition characterized by short stature due to a short trunk, multiple morphological abnormalities of the vertebrae and ribs due to malsegmentation of the axial skeleton. Radiological features include reduced number of vertebrae and ribs, hemivertebrae, fused or sagitally cleft vertebrae or multiple rib fusions. Three distinct clinical entities are described. We report nine cases of this syndrome, seven were infants and presented with an abnormal shape of the thorax. Two of them had a meningocoele, and one succumbed to the CNS anomalies on the third day of life. The other two cases were two and eight years of age. Cardiac lesion was detected in one case and renal malformations in three cases. Reduction in the rib number was present in all cases, and rib fusion in seven cases. Thoracic vertebral dysegmentation was noted in all, lumbar in three and cervical in one case. This is the first large series from India. No clear single etiology was established.