Dwarfism is when a person is short in stature because of their genes or a medical reason. It’s defined by the advocacy groups Little People of the World Organization (LPOTW) and Little People of America (LPA) as an adult height of 4 feet 10 inches or under, as a result of a medical or genetic condition. Other groups extend the criteria for certain forms of dwarfism to 5 feet, but the average height of an adult with dwarfism is 4 feet.
There are two main categories of dwarfism -- disproportionate and proportionate.
Disproportionate dwarfism is characterized by an average-size torso and shorter arms and legs or a shortened trunk with longer limbs.
In proportionate dwarfism, the body parts are in proportion but shortened.
Dwarfism Symptoms
In addition to short stature, dwarfism has many other symptoms that can vary depending the type it is.
Disproportionate dwarfism symptoms
Disproportionate dwarfism usually doesn’t affect intellectual development unless a child has other rare conditions, including hydrocephalus, or excess fluid around the brain.
Symptoms of disproportionate dwarfism may include:
Adults typically are about 4 feet tall
Average-size torso and very short limbs, especially in the upper halves of arms and legs
Short fingers
Wide spaces between the middle and ring fingers
Limited elbow mobility
Disproportionately large head
Prominent forehead
Flattened bridge of the nose
Bowing of legs that progressively worsens over time
Swaying of the back that progressively worsens over time
warfism Treatments
Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent or lessen some of the problems associated with dwarfism. People with dwarfism related to growth hormone deficiency can be treated with growth hormone. For children five years of age and older with achondroplasia who still have the potential for growth, the FDA has approved vosoritide (Voxzogo) to help stimulate bone growth.
In many cases, people with dwarfism have orthopaedic or medical complications. Treatment of those can include:
Insertion of a shunt to drain excess fluid and relieve pressure on the brain
A tracheotomy to improve breathing through small airways
Corrective surgeries for deformities such as cleft palate, club foot, or bowed legs
Surgery to remove tonsils or adenoids to improve breathing problems related to large tonsils, small facial structures, and/or a small chest
Surgery to widen the spinal canal (the opening through which the spinal cord passes) to relieve spinal cord compression
Extended limb lengthening, a controversial surgery, due in part to its risks, involves several procedures. It is only done on adults.
Other treatment may include:
Physical therapy to strengthen muscles and increase joint range of motion
Placement of drainage tubes in the middle ear to help prevent hearing loss due to repeated ear infections
Orthodontic treatment to relieve crowding of teeth caused by a small jaw
Nutritional guidance and exercise to help prevent obesity, which can aggravate skeletal problems
Dwarfism Diagnosis
Some forms of dwarfism are evident in utero, at birth, or during infancy and can be diagnosed through X-rays and a physical exam. A diagnosis of achondroplasia, diastrophic dysplasia, or spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia can be confirmed through genetic testing. In some cases, prenatal testing is done if there is concern for specific conditions.
Sometimes dwarfism doesn't become evident until later in a child's life, when dwarfism signs lead parents to seek a diagnosis. Here are signs and symptoms to look for in children that indicate a potential for dwarfism:
A larger head
Late development of certain motor skills, such as sitting up or walking