Apert Syndrome: Only 300 cases since 1894!

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Apert syndrome: The infant with a turribrachycephalic (tall and decreased AP dimension) skull, frontal bossing, hypertelorism, depressed nasal bridge, antimongoloid slant of the eyes and midface deficiency

Apert Syndrome is a very rare disorder. According to statistics, there are only 300 cases in the record. Keep in mind that Apert Syndrome was first described in 1894. In a period of more than a century report of only 300 cases makes Apert Syndrome quite rare. Moreover, the statistics reveal only one in 65000 births develop Apert Syndrome. Surprisingly, Asia reports the highest number of Apert Syndrome cases. 

A case of 9 months old boy was presented to a clinician. The child had bilateral syndactyly of hands and feet and the head was abnormal in shape. He was the second child of nonconsanguineous parents. Both parents and the other sibling were normal. Mother had a normal delivery with no history of infection, drugs, trauma, disease or medical emergency. Moreover, there was no similar case in their family. 

Physical Examination Revealed Enough.

To begin with, the clinician conducted physical examination for close analysis of the child’s skeletal and muscular development. The clinician observed shortened AP which formed abnormal turribrachycephalic head contour. Subsequently, the head had flat occiput and protuberant frontal region. Moreover, the 9 months old child had proptosis, down sliding lateral palpebral fissures, hypertelorism and strabism. The nose was thick. The nasal bridge was depressed and had a bulbous tip at the end. He had to cross bow-shaped lips. The boy had a backward displacement of the maxilla. 

Dome-shaped protruberance in anterior parietal region and increased height of the skull
Deficient premaxilla, V-shaped maxillary arch, pseudocleft, cross bow-shaped lips

After examining the head clinician examined the limbs. The fingers of both hands and feet were completely fused together. However, all fingers had separate nails. In addition, the great toe of both feet was deformed.

Apert syndrome
Bilateral symmetrical syndactyly with complete fusion of all the five digits of both hands with inwardly placed thumb
Apert syndrome
Bilateral symmetrical syndactyly of both the feets with deformation of the great toes

Finally, clinician examined the oral cavity. There was a maxillary arch in V shape with a pseudocleft palate. 

Radiography Supported Physical Examination.

Radiographs supported the physical examination of the body. According to radiographs, the syndactyly involved only soft tissues. The second, third and fourth phalanges and metacarpals of hands and feet showed synostosis. Radiographs of the skull showed hypertelorism, bitemporal widening, fused coronal sutures, turribrachycephalic skull contour and increased convolutional markings. 

Apert syndrome
Hand-wrist radiograph showing soft tissue syndactyly of all the digits and synostosis involving phalanges of second, third and fourth digits and metacarpels of both the hands
Soft tissue fusion of all the digits and synostosis of the metacarpals of both the feet with deformed great toes

In conclusion, the physical examination and radiographs diagnosed the 9 months only boy with Apert Syndrome

What does Apert Syndrome affect? 

Apert Syndrome affects multiple systems at the same time. Here is a list of defects in different organ systems other than those mentioned in the case discussed.

  • Out of position anus
  • Blocked vagina
  • Failed testicles
  • Renal dysfunction
  • Cardiac dysfunction
  • Compromised IQ
  • absence of corpus callosum i.e. connects both cerebral hemispheres
  • Enlarged brain cavity
  • Compromised Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Treatment of Apert Syndrome

As far as the treatment of Apert Syndrome is concerned it is a multidisciplinary approach. The treatment begins soon after birth.

  • Craniectomy, at the age of 6 months, treats craniosynostosis.
  • Corrective surgery, at the age of 1, treats syndactyly. Usually, the surgery takes place various times until the age of 3-4.
  • Cosmetic surgery, at the age of 4-6, treats midface deficiency and psuedocleft palate.
  • Orthodontic and orthognathic surgery, after the eruption of permanent teeth and their complete growth, treats the deformity in the oral cavity. 
SOURCEInternational Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry
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Kashmala Khan is a student of Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery at Karachi Medical and Dental College (KMDC), Pakistan. She is an amalgam of medicine and literature. Her inquisitive nature towards health-oriented issues ignited her interest to pursue medical writing. Kashmala owns deep interest in literature. She is an avid reader of novels and newspapers since young age and equally adores spending time under open sky to let the nature cherish her leisure. Currently, she is immersed in the student life that happens to occupy most part of her day. Years later from today, she sees herself as a recognized medical professional.

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